Eleanor M. Nielsen, 105, Spencer

Services for Eleanor M. Nielsen will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal, with Pastor Mark Wilms officiating. Honorary bearers include Zach Nielsen, Dana Huberg, Jodi Nielsen, Hudson Huberg, Greta Huberg, Theo Nielsen, Anders Nielsen, Soren Nielsen and all of her friends. Interment will be at Willow Creek Cemetery in rural Royal. Warner Funeral Home in Spencer is assisting with the arrangements.

Eleanor Mary (Reed) Nielsen, the daughter of John and Jessie Stoner Reed, was born Aug. 9, 1917 at their farm home in Peterson. She lived on a farm northwest of Peterson through her graduation from Peterson High School in 1934. She started first grade at age 5 because her father drove the school bus. Following graduation she spent a year in the education program at Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls.

Her first six years of teaching occurred in country schools in the area. Many times she told her family that she had countless great memories of these six years especially enjoying games at recess with the students. She spent the next three years teaching first grade in Royal where she met Herbert. When she signed a contract in Hartley, Herb quickly gave her a diamond so he wouldn’t lose her.

They were married on March 27, 1949 at the Methodist Church in Peterson. They lived in Royal until 1952 when they moved to the Reed farm on Highway 10. They had three sons and when Tony started school in 1960, Eleanor began 20 years teaching in the Sioux Valley school system until retiring in 1980, finishing 30 years of teaching.

Then it could almost be said that she started her second profession of golf, which she enjoyed for the rest of her life. She received many accolades for her skills and enjoyment of the sport.

Eleanor passed away on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at the age of 105. She was preceded in death by husband, Herbert; her daughter-in-law, Joy; her parents; her sister, Ina Joy; her brother, David Reed; and twin sisters, Margaret Pierce and Marjorie Pritts.

Eleanor’s three sons: Rick, John and Anton; three grandchildren: Dana (Beau) Huberg, Jodi (Marcus Reeder) Nielsen and Zachary (Sara) Nielsen; five great-grandchildren: Hudson and Greta Huberg, and Theo, Anders and Soren Nielsen; nieces and nephews; three Godchildren and every student she ever taught are here to celebrate her life.