Eleanor Klein

Funeral services for Eleanor Ruth Klein were held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 21, 2025 at the Union Baptist Church in Burke, SD with Pastor Mark Tuttle officiating. Music was provided by Mark Tuttle, accompanied by Jane Tuttle. Casket bearers were James Larson, Tanner Larson, Eric Perez, Jeremy Evans, Chris Goosman, and Nick Klein. Katie Evans, Stacy Larson, Stacey Larson, Kacey Perez, Carly Goosman, and all of Eleanor’s great-grandchildren, friends, and family were honorary casket bearers. Interment was at Graceland Cemetery in Burke. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Eleanor Ruth (Herndon) Klein was born April 2, 1932, to Lewis and Florence (Holbert) Herndon, and she died peacefully on March 11, 2025, at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, SD, at the age of 92 years.

Eleanor leaves behind a legacy defined by kindness, faith, and family. She was born and raised in Gregory, where she built a life centered on the people she loved. She married Andrew Wayne Klein on May 29, 1954, and together they shared 48 years of marriage. In their early years, Andy and Eleanor farmed and ranched in the Lucas area. She spent her career at First Fidelity Bank in Burke, later working in the assessor’s office at the courthouse before returning to the bank as a bookkeeper. She had a quiet strength and a deep sense of dedication that carried into her work and family life.

Outside of work she found joy in quilting, creating pieces that became cherished keepsakes. She was happiest in the kitchen, cooking for those she loved. Her fried chicken, homemade bread, and crunchy salad were family favorites, and her apple butter was a special treat for her grandchildren.

Her faith was central to her life, and she carried it with quiet conviction. She was known for her warmth, her steady presence and a smile that could brighten even the hardest of days. Those who knew her will likely remember her gentle nature, her generosity, and her often heard phrase, “Oh dear”.

Eleanor is survived by her children: Deb (Gene) Larson of Burke, SD, and Dick (JoAnne) Klein of Gillette, WY; her six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; her sister Joyce Scholle of Canton, SD; and sisterin-law Norma Inglett of Loveland, CO.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents Lewis and Florence; her in-laws Andrew and Edna Klein; her husband Andrew Wayne; her children Dennis and Lori Klein; her great-granddaughter Olivia Evans, and her sisters Dorothy Robinson and Betty Klein.