Frances Eller

Fran was born, raised, and worked on her parent’s dairy farm in Isanti County east of Princeton. She could drive four horses up with two lines. She was more happy helping her Dad in the fields than with housework. In about 1937 she and sister Hilda hitch-hiked to Onamia, working at the Paul Bunyan Diner, then Bob’s Café where she met Richie. They were married April 17, 1940. In the 1940s Fran drove for Sister Laura at the Little Flower Mission in Vineland. Richie and Fran lived and worked in Onamia until they purchased the farm south of Onamia in 1947. The first milk cow turned into a small dairy, the beef ranch grew, horses were always included, sheep for wool were added, and pigs, chickens, goats, rabbits, cats, and dogs were frequent companions. Both Fran and Richie worked in town while caring for the land, the animals, and raising three daughters. In September of 1956 she began work at the then new Community Mercy (now Mille Lacs) Hospital and with the help of Bob and Florence Courteau and the Franciscan Sisters earned her license as a Registered Nurse. She continued practicing nursing at the hospital and then as nurse for the Onamia Public Schools until she began farming full-time in 1982. She and Richie planted thousands of pine, spruce, and cedar on the 88 acre homestead. Fran was awarded the Mille Lacs County Conservationist of the Year Award in 2003. She continued to help with farm chores and oversaw the homestead until age 91. She was a wonderful cook and baker, excelled at gardening and preserving the harvest, loved tree planting and animal husbandry, played a pretty good harmonica, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow. She was a member of Holy Cross Parish and made a point to always pray for her children, grandchildren, siblings and family, patients, neighbors and friends. A long and full life well-lived. Fran is survived by her daughters, Barb Eller (Paul Baribeau) of Onamia, MN, Charlene (Clair) Haeg of Foreston, MN; son-in-law, Mickey Lewandoski of Onamia, MN; granddaughter, JaNene (Ken) Banks; grandsons, Tom (Anne) Lewandoski, Richard (Jody) Lewandoski, Nate (Chris) Lewandoski; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Shane, Lindsey, Michael, Summer Rose, Alex, Colton, Dalton, Zachary, Jacob, and Ally; great-great-grandchild, Mackenzie; many nieces & nephews She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; parents, John & Helen (Schultz) Weinhold; Infant son, Kenneth Richard; daughter, Elizabeth (Betty) Lewandoski; brothers, Sam, George, Leo, Peter, John Jr. sisters, Theresa Henderson, Agnes Thompson, Hilda Steadman, Anna Lambert, Florence Harrington, Irene Gerth, Clara Weinhold.

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Frances Eller

December 5, 1916 - January 8, 2010