Eleanor Dorothy Helen Christenson, 87, Freeborn, died Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at Parkview Care Center in Wells. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Freeborn United Church of Christ in Freeborn. The Rev. Cherie Daniel will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in the Freeborn Cemetery.
Eleanor Dorothy Helen Christenson was born June 29, 1922, in Dunbar Township, Faribault County, the daughter of Ernest and Anna (Kluender) Bruegger. She attended country school through the eighth grade. On Nov. 20, 1954, she was united in marriage to Cleon Christenson at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in rural Minnesota Lake. She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ and after her marriage she became a member of Freeborn Congregational Church, where she served many years as a Sunday school teacher, Women’s Fellowship and Board of Deacons. She and Cleon were members of the Polka A’s Dancing Club. She and Cleon were very good polka dancers traveling to polka-fests throughout the country. For 19 years they traveled to Arizona to spend the winters dancing and visiting with friends.
Eleanor was very proud of her sons, Craig and Jon, and the kind loving men and fathers they turned out to be. She said her daughter-in-law, Sarah, was like the daughter she never had. She dearly loved her grandchildren Casey, Ciara and Cody. She treasured every minute she got to spend with them. She cheered them on at their sporting events and attended as many as possible. She loved watching Casey and Ciara grow up. She took yearly pictures with them on their spiral staircase. She said little Cody was going to keep her young. She was thrilled to welcome Britani into her family as her granddaughter-in-law. Eleanor loved spending time with her family and friends. She always welcomed everyone into her home to share her baked goods and delicious meals. Holidays were her favorite time. She always said she made the “same old things” but also knew it was what we all loved to eat. She loved to laugh and took such good care of everyone. She loved watching birds, especially hummingbirds. She always made her own sugar water for them.
Eleanor is survived by her loving husband Cleon of Freeborn; two sons: Craig Christenson of Freeborn, and Jon (Sarah) Christenson of Freeborn; three grandchildren: Casey (Britani) of Mankato, Ciara Christenson of Freeborn, and Cody Christenson of Freeborn; two sister-in-laws: Geneva Bruegger of Minnesota Lake and Betty (Dean) Brunstad of Merlin, Ore.; two brother-in-laws: Luverne Joecks of New Richland and Duane Christenson of Freeborn.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Leonard, Arnold, Armin and Melvin; sisters: Gertrude Groskruetz and Loretta Joecks; an infant son; grandson: Tyler Jon Christenson; sister-in-laws: Joyce (Lindsey) Pack, LaVae (Jerry) Schultz; and brother-in-law: Vincent Christenson.