Eleanor Ruth Klein was born April 2, 1932 to Lewis and Florence (Holbert) Herndon and she died peacefully on March 11, 2025 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 92 years.

Eleanor leaves behind a life defined by kindness, faith and family.  She was born and raised in Gregory, she built a life centered around the people she loved.  She married Andrew Wayne Klein on May 29, 1954 and together they shared 48 years of marriage.  In their early years, Andy and Eleanor farmed and ranched in the Lucas area.  She spent her career at First Fidelity Bank in Burke, later working in the Assessor's Office at the Courthouse before returning to the bank as a bookkeeper.  She had a quiet strength and a deep sense of dedication that carried into her work and family life.

Outside of work she found joy in quilting, creating pieces that became cherished keepsakes.  She was happiest in the kitchen, cooking for those she loved.  Her fried chicken, homemade bread and crunchy salad were family favorites, and her apple butter was a special treat for her grandchildren.

Her faith was central to her life and she carried it with quiet conviction.  She was known for her warmth, her steady presence and a smile that could brighten even the hardest of days.  Those who knew her will likely remember her gentle nature, her generosity and her often heard phrase, "Oh dear".

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Florence; her in-laws, Andrew and Edna Klein; her husband Andrew Wayne; her two children Dennis and Lori Klein; her great-granddaughter Olivia Evans and her sisters Dorothy Robinson and Betty Klein.

Eleanor is survived by her children: Deb (Gene) Larson of Burke, SD and Dick (JoAnne) Klein of Gillette, WY; her six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; her sister Joyce Scholle of Canton, SD; and sister-in-law Norma Inglett of Loveland, CO.

Eleanor's legacy is found in the love she passed down and the many lives she touched.  She will be deeply missed.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Union Baptist Church in Burke, SD.  Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Burke.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.