M. Eleanor Wilcox

(Mary) Eleanor Wilcox, 89 of Cando, ND formerly of Devils Lake, ND died on Thursday afternoon, April 7, 2005 at the Towner County Medical Center, Cando. Mass of Christian Burial for Eleanor will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Joseph Christensen will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A Rosary and Scripture Service will be held on Monday at 7:00 p.m. with the Rosary led by the Catholic Daughters. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Pallbearers will be Eleanor’s Grandchildren: Sara, David and Megan Locken and John, Luke, Mark, Paul and Mary Jo Rodenbiker. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Lois Jones, Amy Mosbeck, Jean Klemetsrud, Harriet Knudsen, Mickey Collins, Gayle Wishnewski, Donna Olson and all of Eleanor’s many special friends and the Friends of the Red Hat Society. Reading the Scriptures will be Ron Rodenbiker Gift Bearers will be Eleanor’s Daughters, Mary Pat, JoAnn and Barbara. Music will be provided by Lynda Pearson, Organist and Kevin Regan, Soloist Mary Eleanor Graham was born on November 21, 1915 in Devils Lake, ND to Robert and Veronica (Adams) Graham. They moved to Churchs Ferry when Eleanor was in the second grade to a farm 1 mile west of town. Eleanor graduated from Churchs Ferry High School in 1933 and then attended Mayville State College. She was united in marriage to Edward C. Wilcox on September 30, 1935 at Devils Lake and they farmed in the Devils Lake area for the next 40 years. Ed passed away on April 29, 1981. Eleanor had a varied work life, including assisting on the farm, sales clerk in Devils Lake businesses including Mann’s and Stevenson’s , Women’s Director for the North Dakota Farm Bureau, Feature Editor for the Devils Lake World, and Outreach Worker for Senior Meals and Services. When she approached retirement, Eleanor became a recognized speaker and writer, dealing with issues related to aging and retirement. She served on the Governor’s Commission on Aging, chaired the Silver Haired Education Association and was a delegate to the Silver Haired Assembly for many sessions, was assistant State Director of the AARP and was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. She served on the Senior Meals and Services board of directors and the Senior Center management board for many years. She was honored for her service in 2002, when the Devils Lake Senior Center was re-named the “Eleanor Wilcox Center”. She continued her active participation in community issues well into her 80’s. Her community activism had been rewarded with several local, regional and state awards for her service to Farm Bureau, 4-H, ND Chautauqua, Pioneer Daughters, the Lakewood Homemakers and of course, her work with and for Senior Citizens. Some of these awards included ND Outstanding Volunteer, Lake Region Unsung Hero, numerous journalism awards and she was even ND Barley Queen in the mid-80’s. Eleanor was steadfast in her faith as an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, serving on the parish council, as a lector, as Regent and life-long member of the Catholic Daughters and St. Jude’s Altar Society. She was also known for her work and support of the Republican Party. Eleanor’s children and grandchildren always brought great joy and she was so proud of their every achievement. She was a great role model as she encouraged and supported them to be active in their communities, churches and schools. Eleanor is survived by her daughters: Mary Pat Wilcox, Devils Lake JoAnn Rodenbiker and her husband, Ron, Rock Lake, ND Barbara Locken and her husband, Eugene, Aneta, ND Grandchildren: Sara Locken, Mayville, ND David Locken Megan Locken, both of Aneta John (Erika) Rodenbiker, Minot Luke Rodenbiker, Fargo Mark Rodenbiker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Paul Rodenbiker Mary Jo Rodenbiker both of Fargo Sister: Adelle Davy, Texas Many nieces and nephews also survive She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed; brother, Clinton Graham; sisters, Dorothy (Ralph) Lipp, Margaret (Manson) Rader and Rita Johnson.