Eleanor L. Malchow

Eleanor Lucile (Richardson) Malchow, 87, of Lincoln, formerly of Beatrice and Diller, died at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln on Saturday, March 6, 2010.

Eleanor Lucile Malchow, daughter of G. Leonard and Florence Grone Richardson, was born January 12, 1923, at her parents' home 1 1/2 miles north and 2 3/4 miles east of Diller. She was baptized and became a member of the Diller Congregational Church on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934. Eleanor attended the country school District #152 grades 1-8. She attended Diller High School and took Normal Training, and graduated from Diller High School May, 1939. She started teaching at District #129 (two miles east of Ellis) in the fall of 1939, and taught there two years. In the fall of 1941 she started teaching at District #46 (7 1/2 miles north and 1/2 mile west of Odell). She taught there one year. In the fall of 1942 Eleanor taught District #98 (4 miles north of Odell) for one year.


In the summers of 1940 and 1941 she attended summer school at Peru State College. She continued to take extension courses from Peru until 1944 earning a total of 24 credit hours.

Eleanor married Norman Malchow on August 24, 1943, at the Zion Lutheran church parsonage in Tampa, Florida, while Norman was serving in the United States Army. They spent 8 months together while Norman was stationed in Tampa and Tennessee. While in Tampa, Eleanor worked in Woolworths. In Murfreesboro, Tennessee, she worked in Mayberry's.


When Norman left for overseas duty, Eleanor returned to her parental home in Nebraska. In the fall of 1944 she taught at a rural school northeast of Plymouth for one year. The fall of 1945 she taught District #152 (which is the same school she attended and her daughters would later attend).


In early February, 1946, Eleanor and Norman moved to a farm east of Diller. This was the neighboring farm in the same section where Eleanor was born. Their daughter, Sheryl, was born December 5, 1946. In the fall of 1948, they built a new house on the family farm site. Carol was born October 3, 1949, and Sue was born April 17, 1951. Eleanor was a full-time mother and homemaker. She was devoted to seeing that her daughters had the opportunity to experience and participate in all activities that interested them.


Eleanor was in Extension Clubs for many years. She was a lifelong member of the Diller Congregational Church, which later became the Diller United Church of Christ. She was active in the Women's Fellowship Organization and served as President and other offices, was Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, was on the church board and served as President, and with her husband they were sponsors of the Youth Fellowship,

In summer of 1957, Eleanor was appointed to the Diller Rural High School Board of Education. In 1960 it became the Diller Community Schools, and she continued to be on the Board of Education for four more years, serving as Treasurer for five years.

In the fall of 1961 she started to work at Dempsters in Beatrice for eight months. In 1962 she started to work at Three Sisters dress shop in Beatrice. In February, 1963, Eleanor started to work at First National Bank in Beatrice. She worked there 11 years and retired as Head Bookkeeper.


Eleanor and Norman traveled through 45 states, Canada, and Mexico. They took many family vacations, including trips in recent years with their children and grandchildren. They also traveled a great deal with friends and other family members.


Eleanor was a member of American Auxiliary Legion, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), and DUV (Daughters of the Union Veterans). She was Regent of the Beatrice Chapter of DAR for two years, Delegate to the National Conference in Washington, DC, and served several local offices.

Eleanor was very interested in genealogy and spent much time pursuing this interest. She belonged to the Southeast Nebraska Genealogy Society, and State of Nebraska Genealogy Society.

Survivors include three daughters, Sheryl Malchow of Beatrice, Carol Jurgens and husband Tom of Lincoln, Sue Engler and husband Joe of Lincoln; five grandchildren Jaci Burt and husband Marc of Lincoln, Cami Berglund and husband Martin of Elkhorn, Tadd Jurgens of Lincoln, Tori Kyncl and husband Jeremy of Lincoln, Matthew Engler and wife Amanda of Lincoln; nine great-grandchildren, Tanner, Walker, Gage, and Gavin Burt of Lincoln, Sophia and Julia Berglund of Elkhorn, Trevor Jurgens of Lincoln, Jack and Emma Kyncl of Lincoln. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Florence Grone Richardson, her husband Norman Malchow, one great-granddaughter Elizabeth Kyncl, two brothers; Clarence Richardson and Lawrence Richardson.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury with Pastor Darwin Garton officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery of Diller. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury. Visitation on Wednesday will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fox Funeral Home in Beatrice. Visitation on Thursday will be at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. until service time.