Eleanor Charlotta Anderson Allen

Jan. 9, 1915 - Jan. 18, 2010

Eleanor was born Jan. 9, 1915, at Walton, the second child of John Frederick and Edith Louisa (Schoenleber) Anderson and departed this life on Jan. 18, 2010, at the Cambridge Manor at the age of 95 years and nine days. Eleanor was baptized and confirmed in the Walton Grace Lutheran Church at an early age and later transferred her membership to the United Methodist Church of which she was a 75-year-member. Eleanor graduated from Walton High School in 1933 and received a Bachelor of Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University of Lincoln in 1937. Eleanor was one of the star basketball players for the Bleu Thonge Basketball Team, a member of the Woman's Athletic Association, a member of the YWCA and also served on the Plainsman annual staff. Following graduation, she taught high school in the Orafino School, for the school years of 1937-1938 and at Marion, Neb., High School for the school years of 1938-1939.

On March 4, 1939, she was united in marriage to Clarence Lee Allen. This union immediately made Eleanor a mother to 10-year-old Donald Eugene. The marriage of Clarence and Eleanor produced three children, Dale Edward, Pearl Eileen and Margaret Eleanor.

Following their marriage, Clarence and Eleanor lived a short distance from the Medicine Creek until the flood of 1947 forced them to move to a farm west of the lake. This move was made following the historic 1948-1949 blizzards.

Eleanor was more than just a housewife. She was a loving wife and mother as well as being a good friend of her children. She spent many days fishing with her family at the nearby lake. She raised a large garden each year as well as taking care of the milk cows, chickens and pigs. Her college degree helped her with the education of her children, grandchildren as well as her nieces.

Eleanor loved to crochet and made many doilies and table cloths. She also was an avid quilt maker, making quilts for all her children and grandchildren. While in the Manor, she spent many hours working her word search puzzles and loved playing bingo.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; her parents, John and Edith; her step-mother Anna Maude; one son Donald; one brother, Ted Anderson; one sister, Margaret Gray; son-in-law, Aaron Menze and great-grandsons Sean Michael Allen and Jeremy Cooksey.

Survivors include her son Dale and wife, Jean Allen of Cambridge; daughters Pearl and husband, Rodney "Sonny" Hinz of Arapahoe and Margaret and husband, Jerry Chipps of Kearney; one sister Edith Alberta Jones of Eugene, Ore.; one brother Fredrick Anderson of Davis, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Eldora Allen as well as a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Cambridge United Methodist Church with internment to follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Lockenour-Jones Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.