Eleanor Jeanette Braseth, age 102, passed away Sunday, April 11, 2010 at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.


Eleanor was born December 7, 1907, to Bernard and Clara (Fuglie) Wang. She attended Ulen Public School and Moorhead State Teachers College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Upon receiving her teaching certificate, Eleanor taught rural school in Clay County.

On November 4, 1928, Eleanor was united in marriage to Lewis Braseth at the church parsonage in Ulen. The couple lived in Moorhead and Twin Valley before moving to Mahnomen in 1934, where they raised their family. Eleanor worked in the Mahnomen Public School cafeteria a number of years and also did babysitting and custom baking. Lewis died on November 19, 1971 and Eleanor continued to live in their house until 1998, when she moved into the Welle Apartments in Mahnomen. She has resided at the Mahnomen Health Center since 2004.


Her hobbies included knitting, making Raggedy Ann/Andy dolls, and playing Scrabble. Eleanor was a member of First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen, where she taught Sunday school, weekday school and was active in their organizations. She was also a member of various clubs. Eleanor was a humble, hard-working, thrifty lady. She was a very likeable person with a great sense of humor.

Survivors include three daughters: Elizabeth Polack, Modesto, CA, Barbara (Harvey) Johnson, Forest City, IA, Patricia (Roger) Bramel, Wahpeton, ND; one son, David (Dorothy) Braseth, Lino Lakes, MN; 12 Grandchildren: Stewart Polack, Karen Polack (Scott Witter), Curtis (Jennifer) Polack, Mark (Caroline) Polack, Julie Johnson (Felix Tweraser), Jennifer Johnson, Eric (Kristin) Johnson, Elizabeth (Jeff) Leintz, Paul (Ann) Bramel, Sam Braseth, Alisen Braseth and Regan Braseth; 11 great-grandchildren: Chelsea Polack, Henry Polack, Lauren Witter, Ben Polack, Jake Polack, Abby Polack, Isabel Tweraser, Katie Johnson, Elsie Johnson, Claire Bramel, and Aidan Bramel and two great-great grandchildren, Ella and Hayden Cole; one sister, Frances Hogenson, Moorhead, MN; one brother, Vernon Wang, also of Moorhead.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis; four sisters: Myrtle Hilde, Mildred Halvorson, Clarice Hilde and Ruth Nelson and two brothers, Ordell and Walter.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at First Lutheran Church in Mahnomen. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service on Thursday.

Burial will be in the Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery, Mahnomen, MN.