Obituary of Eleanor Phelan

Mom

On a sunny September 22nd day in 1927, there was a new arrival at the family farmhouse near Holland, Minnesota. She came to be known as Eleanor Darlene, after her mother, Eleanora. Her parents, Louis and Eleanora Raschke, were devout Christians so Eleanor was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. She attended one of the last remaining country schoolhouses. After graduating from Pipestone High School, she attended and graduated with High Honors, Bethany Lutheran College at Mankato, Minnesota, earning an Associated Arts Degree.

Instead of pursuing a career, she married Ray Amdahl and they established a home in Pipestone. To this union Mark and Alecia were born and Paul, ten years later. Sadly, this marriage did not last and Eleanor began a career teaching in order to support her children. Her first assignment was Trinity Lutheran School in Billings, Montana.

In order to salvage a failing marriage, the family moved back to Pipestone. Eleanor taught in Flandreau, South Dakota and Jasper Minnesota. After a divorce, Eleanor and the children returned to Billings where she taught at various schools in the Billings District until her retirement.

This was a difficult time attending evening and summer classes to improve her career. Her children always motivated her, helping with household chores and caring for their younger brother while pursuing their own educational goals. Eleanor Graduated with a Master's Degree in Education from Eastern Montana College.

Alecia and Mark both received their Doctoral Degrees and Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Education became a family goal and Eleanor's children as well as their spouses became teachers. Alecia and Richard Baker in Boise, Mark and Cathryn Amdahl in Pennsylvania and Paul in Montana.

In 1962 Eleanor married Rowley D. Phelan. They lived in Billings over 30 years until they retired and moved to Boise Idaho, to be near Alecia and her family. Eleanor substitute taught for seven more years. In 1996, her loving husband, Dean, passed away. Eleanor moved to West Yellowstone, Montana, where Paul was teaching High School. It was there she learned to enjoy nature. She built a home, climbed mountains, capsized canoes and chased buffalo out of her yard. She enjoyed creative writing, fashion, home design, working on her beautiful yard and reading good literature. Her great loves were her Savior, her children, her husband and her student's (most of them). After Paul retired, they moved to Meridian to be near Alecia and family. She was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Boise.

Eleanor's parents and beloved daughter, Alecia, are already enjoying their Heavenly Home. Also, her siblings and their spouses. The Raschkes: Arnold and Evelyn, Elvin and Leona, Orlen and Esther, and Lorna and Herman Stueven.

Those who mourn her passing are her sons Mark and Paul Amdahl,Daughter in Law Cathryn Amdahl, Grandchildren Flannery McMurry and Nicolas Baker,Great Grandchildren Patrick McMurry, Eleanor and Beatrice Baker, also twelve nieces and nephews together with their spouses, who persist in faith.

Memorial Services will be conducted on June 20th at 3:00PM at Beautiful Lutheran Church, 2981 E. Boise Ave Boise, Idaho.