Eleanor Clarice Boe was born on July 6, 1927 in Park River, North Dakota to parents Clarence and Emma Gaarder. Later, her two younger brothers, Earl and Roger joined the family. She was raised in the Lutheran faith and spent her childhood on the family farm in Park River. After high school, Eleanor attended Concordia College in Morehead, Minnesota, training to become a parish worker. She worked at the American Lutheran Church in Billings, Montana and later as a parish visitor for the American Lutheran Church in Seattle. There, Eleanor met Reverand Dwight Boe at a church concert. When one of Dwight’s friends met Eleanor, he told Dwight that she is very sweet and so very nice. Dwight obviously thought so, too. On June 28, 1952, Dwight and Eleanor were married in Billings, Montana. They moved to Bremerton, Washington where they made their first home serving at the Lutheran Church. Eleanor continued to do church work in Bremerton and in Seward where they transferred in the mid-fifties. They traveled to their new home in Seward by the Alaskan Steamship Company. Eleanor often told adventuresome stories about living in Alaska before Alaska became a state. Later they moved to northern Canada and to Eugene, Oregon where Dwight furthered his education and worked for the Good Samaritan Society which operated retirement centers. Eleanor continued to work alongside Dwight. In 1974, Dwight transferred with Good Samaritan to Boulder, Colorado. There Eleanor and Dwight found their niche working together in the Good Samaritan Society Retirement Center and joining Atonement Lutheran Church.

Eleanor and Dwight had many happy years in Boulder, enjoying each other’s company, hosting friends, and participating in the Atonement Lutheran congregation. The two were married for fifty-five years when Dwight passed away. Eleanor continued to live in Boulder and remained active in the Atonement congregation until her health prevented her.

Eleanor will be remembered for her wonderful smile, her twinkling eyes, her agreeable disposition and her large capacity for nurturing years-long friendships. Her most frequented phrase was “That will be fine.” Even as her health declined, Eleanor remained steadfast in her faith and retained her pleasantness toward all people. She passed away peacefully on August 29, 2024 at the age of ninety-seven and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Eleanor was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, and her beloved husband, Dwight. She is survived by her nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service at Atonement Lutheran Church (685 Inca Parkway, Boulder Colorado 80303) on Monday, September 9, 2024 at 1:00.