Eleanor Gessele, age 76 of Mercer, ND died Sunday, February 1, 2009 at a Bismarck hospital.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, February 5th at the Turtle Lake Baptist Church with Rev. Marvin Winstryg of the United Methodist Church officiating.

Interment will be held at a later date in the Turtle Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM Wednesday at Goetz Funeral Home -Turtle Lake, and Thursday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Eleanor Elizabeth was born December 3, 1932 in McClusky, ND the daughter to Theophil & Martha (Wolt) Reuer. She was raised and educated southwest of Mercer, ND in McLean County. She attended Mercer High School and stayed at the Ed Gessele residence and later at the Conrad Freeberg residence. While attending high school, Eleanor also worked at the Freeberg Store in Mercer. She married Edwin "Charlie" Gessele on Feb. 22, 1950 in McClusky. They moved to his parent's farm south of Mercer where Eleanor remained for the next 59 years. She assisted her husband Edwin with the farm until his death in 1990. Eleanor's church, family, and community were very important to her. She was active in the Methodist churches of Mercer and Turtle Lake and served with the women's group, choir, and as a youth leader. She sewed a quilt for every graduating senior from her church. Eleanor also served on the board of directors for the Mercer Community Center for many years. Aside from raising three sons of her own, Eleanor also raised three nephews when her sister Idella passed away at an early age. Eleanor enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing, reading, singing, and bowling. She loved to attend her grandchildren's sporting and musical events.

She is survived by one son, Larry (Kathy) Gessele of Mercer; one daughter-in-law, Mary Gessele of Fargo; her nephews, Gordon (Joell) Neumiller of Stanton, Jim (Tamara) Neumiller of Bismarck, & Robert (Corine) Neumiller of Tucson, AZ; three grandchildren, Josh (Jennifer) Gessele of Bismarck, Chris Gessele of Hazen, & Ann Gessele of Bismarck.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Edwin), two sons (Vernon & Mark Gessele), five sisters (Idella, Dorothy, Doris, and two girl infants), and one brother (Leo).