Elinor M Smith
Elinor Mae Smith, age 91, of Eau Galle, passed away on Friday May 2, 2025, at AdventHealth in Durand with her family by her side.
Elinor was born March 1, 1934, in the Township of Eau Galle, Hay Creek Community. She was the daughter of Russell and Esther (Roth) Baskin and grew up in Hay Creek. She attended Hay Creek Grade School and graduated from Durand High School in 1951. After high school, Elinor attended and graduated from Dunn County Normal in 1953. She taught at Hay Creek Grade School for one year. Elinor married Gordon Smith June 17, 1954, at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie. After marriage they moved to Yorktown, VA, while Gordon served in the U.S. Army. In October of 1954, they returned to Eau Galle where they lived and raised their three sons, Dave, Greg and Doug.
While living in Eau Galle, Elinor worked for the U. S. Post Office in Eau Galle, as a Postal Clerk and then as Postmaster, retiring after 40 years of service in 1999. Elinor also served as the Eau Galle Township Clerk for 12 years.
Elinor was very active in the New Hope Lutheran Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Church Council member, taking part in various women’s organizations, singing in the church choir, and was the Stewardship Secretary for many years.
Elinor enjoyed reading, listening to music, cooking for her family, and entertaining family and friends. She enjoyed scrapbooking and made volumes of scrapbooks of her family.
Elinor is survived by her three sons, Dave (Lynnette), Greg (Wendy), both of Menomonie and Doug (Becky) of Durand; seven grandchildren, Stacy (Jake) Bloom, Travis (Jen) Smith, Kyle Smith, Jennifer (David) Shudy, Brian (Hayley) Smith, Kylee (Lane) Johnson, Aaron (Courtney) Smith; 15 great grandchildren; Clayton, Maxwell, Gracie, Caroline, Eli, Madelyn, Walter, Allison, Katherine, Olivia, Edward, Sadie, Cole, Jolie and Charlotte; one brother, Richard (Mary) Baskin of Eau Galle; sister-in-law, Sharon Smith of Arkansaw, several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Gordon, great granddaughter in infancy, Isabella Smith, brother-in-law, Gary Smith and a nephew, Craig Baskin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to New Hope Lutheran Church, Rose Hill Cemetery or Clearview Cemetery in Eau Galle.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday May 8, 2025, at New Hope Lutheran Church in Downsville with Rev. Judy Kincaid officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in the Township of Dunn. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at the Rhiel Funeral Home in Durand and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Durand is serving the family.