Eleanor Unterbrunner, 97, of Woonsocket, formerly of Carthage, passed away Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Prairie View Healthcare Community in Woonsocket.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, June 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Wilfred Catholic Church in Woonsocket with Father Jim Friedrich as celebrant. Visitation will be Thursday, June 29, with a Rosary at 4:30 p.m., and resume from 5-7 p.m. at the Church, with a scripture service at 7 p.m.
Eleanor Kathleen Unterbrunner was born Dec. 26, 1919, to Joe and Mary (Maddock) Grassel at the family farm north of Artesian. She attended country schools for eight years, and after graduating, stayed home the next year to help her mother. Eleanor then attended high school in Woonsocket for one year before transferring to Artesian, where she graduated in 1939. She attained a teaching certificate from Notre Dame Junior College and taught country schools in Floyd and Oneida Townships. During World War II, she worked in the McDonald Douglas Aircraft factory at Long Beach, Calif., before returning to South Dakota to teach. She received her state teaching certificate and taught in Miller and Woonsocket.
In 1948, Eleanor married Robert Unterbrunner at St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian and became a farm wife and mother to twelve children. They were members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Carthage until it closed, when they became members of St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian.
Eleanor resided on the farm until November 2012, when she became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare Community in Woonsocket. She was a member of the American Cancer Society in Sanborn County, the Carthage American Legion Auxiliary, and the Altar Societies of her churches.
She is survived by eleven children: Dianne (Frank) Larson of Pierre, Craig (Selena) of Platte, Lynn (Mary Kay) of Yorkville, Ill., Charles (Mary Michelle) of Artesian, Marla Feistner of Woonsocket, Mona (Randy) Hall of Ree Heights, Elizabeth (Leonard) Sanderson of Mina Lake, Bruce (Jean) of Abrams, Wis., Judy (Mike) Cuka of Wagner, Bonnie (Larry) Murtha of Brandon, and Scott (Maxine) of Colman; daughter-in-law, Kathy Nordstrom of Yankton; 43 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; sister, Raeburn Moore of Mitchell; brother, John Grassel of Mitchell; brothers-in-law, Marvin (Dottie) VanOverschelde and Norval (Shorty) Mathis; sisters-in-law, Shirley Mae Beers and Marcy Hinker; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son; a son, Rex; son-in-law, Darrell Feistner; great-granddaughter, Amaya Larson; step-grandson, Douglas Passaro; her parents; sisters, Ruth Hinker, Monica VanOverschelde and Mary Jo Vetter; brothers, Ted Grassel and Francis Grassel; and in-laws, Paul Beers, Delores Mathis, Loretta Grassel, Arlene Grassel, Mel Moore, Lloyd Hinker and Leo Vetter.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.willoughbyfh.com