Eleanora Reiser Renner passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at the age of 98. She was very loved and will be missed by her family and all who knew her.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday June 16, 2017 at Washburn Baptist Church with Pastor Rick Torkelson officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Thursday at Goetz Funeral Home, Washburn.  A prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday also at the funeral home.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.  Cremation will take place following the funeral service and inurnment of cremains will take place at Riverview Cemetery, Washburn.

Eleanora was born just after midnight on August 16, 1918, to Gottfried and Emma Reiser in Bismarck, North Dakota. Her father was so excited about her birth that he didn't realize it was past midnight. He opened the family Bible and wrote August 15 as her birth date. Eleanora celebrated her birthday every year on August 15.

Eleanora was the middle child, with one older sister, Hilda, and a younger brother, Eddie. The Reiser family lived in Bismarck and Moffit for a few years, and then moved to a farm near Washburn. Eleanora and her siblings walked or rode horses four miles to school. When Eleanora was a teenager, the family moved to town. She graduated from Washburn High School in 1936.

In 1939, Eleanora married Arnold Renner. The couple lived in Underwood for a short time before buying a farm near Washburn. They purchased their first tractor with money earned from raising 1,000 chickens.

The Renners had six children—two sons and four daughters. One son, Gary, died in infancy. Eleanora was involved in her children's activities and was a band mother, a den mother, and involved in 4-H.

On their farm, the Renners grew wheat and also had a dairy operation. Eleanora loved life on the farm. She was quick with numbers, and she took care of all the farm accounts. The couple moved to town in 1974 but continued farming. After Arnold died in 1993, Eleanora continued to own and operate the farm up until her death. She was very proud of her farm and loved to drive around, looking at the land and buildings.

Eleanora was an active member of Washburn Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School, was the church secretary, and participated in the women's organization. Always eager to help others, she often gave people rides to church and delivered Meals on Wheels. When the Washburn Methodist Church relocated, Eleanora donated a plot of land to build the new church upon. She was also a long-time member of the Sakakawea Homemakers Club.

One of Eleanora's greatest passions was gardening. She loved tending to her plants and flowers. Her yard was always one of the prettiest in town. She kept a clean and tidy home, and she was a gifted seamstress and cook. Her famous potato salad is unbeatable! She loved keeping busy around the house. Purple was her favorite color, and she had many purple flowers, purple clothes, and even a purple car!

Eleanora enjoyed reading and writing poetry. She could also play the piano by ear. She looked forward to reading the newspaper every morning, and over the years she worked as an electoral official.

But most of all, Eleanora loved her family. When her mother could no longer live alone, Eleanora moved her in and took care of her for more than seven years. She enjoyed having her family around her. She always made sure she had everyone's favorite snacks on hand. No one left her house hungry! A wonderful storyteller, she regaled her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with stories about her life. Her favorite stories to tell were her "bull stories" about being chased by an angry bull on the farm. The bull stories were both funny and mildly terrifying to us kids!

In her later years, Eleanora started playing bingo on Thursdays with a group of friends and family. She enjoyed getting out and, of course, she enjoyed it even more if she got to holler Bingo!

Eleanora is survived by her daughter Norma (Willard) Fried of Medford, Oregon; daughter Francine Aune of Bismarck; son John Renner (Lorraine Larson) of Washburn; daughter Donna (Terry) Gunderson of Washburn, and daughter Corinne (Dale) Kerzmann of Washburn. She had 10 grandchildren, two from each of her children: Cindy & Rhonda, Theresa & Michelle, Angela & Bob, Susan & Jessica, and Dean & Dusty. She had 14 great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Dillon, and Marshall; Eric, Brayden, Jazlyn, Aubree, and Trinidee; Dylan, Campbell, and Van; Peyton, Mikayla, and Jaiden; and one great-great-granddaughter, Braelyn.

Eleanora was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings; her husband, Arnold; her baby son, Gary; and her son-in-law Kenny Aune.