Eleanor E. Miller

Eleanor E. Miller, 97, Lake Mills, passed away Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 at Manly Specialty Care, Manly. A memorial service was held Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, with Rev. David Emmons officiating. Inurnment was held in the Synod Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.
Eleanor Elvira (Peterson) Sandell Miller was born June 15, 1921 in Center Township, rural Winnebago County, to parents Emil and Evelyn (Hermanson) Peterson. She attended and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1940.
In 1942, Eleanor was married to Clarence Sandell in Missouri. The couple had three children and made their home on a farm east of Thompson. Clarence passed away in September of 1951.
Eleanor eventually met Lyle Harold Miller and the two were wed in South Dakota in 1954. In addition to Eleanor’s three kids, Harold had three, and they had a son together. The family lived and farmed east of Thompson and in rural Forest City, where Harold managed the Forest City Airport.
Keeping busy was something Eleanor had no trouble with: she was a busy wife and mother, she worked at Deluxe/Fleetguard for 28 years, was a babysitter for many local children throughout the years, and cleaned various homes and businesses in town.
She enjoyed roller-skating in her younger years, sewing, and collecting things like owls and salt and pepper shakers.
Eleanor is survived by her children: Urada “Sandy” Draheim, Rockwell; David (Mary) Sandell, Whittemore; Darlene Tesdahl, Northwood; and Don Miller, Lake Mills; three stepchildren: Betty Cox, Trenton, Mo.; Doris Welle, Okoboji;  and Jerry (Alyce) Miller, Fairmont, Minn.; eight grandchildren: Sue Ann Draheim, Mason City; Martina (Tom) Gaul, New Vienna; John (Jayna) Becker, Boone; Deann (Rex) Lewman, Rudd; Linda (Troy) Einertson, Northwood; Paul Tesdahl, Rochester, Minn.; OnaLee (Dale) VanHeiden, Lake Mills; and Melissa (Otis) Sorbo, Waldorf, Minn.; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many step-grandchildren in Harold’s family; a sister, Gladys Humphrey, Lake Mills; and a brother, Orvin (Lyn) Peterson, Indianola; as well as many extended relatives and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; grandson, John Tesdahl; great-grandson, Tyler Gaul; two sons-in-law, Thomas Draheim and Clifford Tesdahl; and a brother-in-law. Leighton Humphrey.