Eleanor (Ele) Helen Hokanson, age 89, died very peacefully on Friday, June 2nd, 2017. She suffered renal failure after having struggled with a rare disease, amyloidosis, for many years. At the time of her death, she was receiving hospice care at SummerWood of Plymouth, where she lived with her husband, Cliff, until his passing in January of 2016. Eleanor was born of Norwegian heritage to Ella and Harry O. Quickstad on April 18, 1928. She grew up on a farm in Lemond, MN and attended Waseca High School where she graduated as co-salutatorian in 1946. Ele and Cliff were married in 1949 at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Lemond. They then lived in New Richland, Arlington and on a farm near Lemond, MN where Ele enjoyed the work of the country life. Following that, they moved to Owatonna in 1967, and raised three daughters who were blessed by Ele's passions for sewing, cooking and homemaking. Ele taught Sunday School and was active in the Trinity Lutheran Church Dorcas Circle for many years. She spent much time as a caregiver to shut-ins and nursing home residents. While Cliff was an instructor at the University of Minnesota Technical College in Waseca, Ele aided him in writing and publishing a textbook for mathematics in agriculture which is still in use today. After Cliff's retirement they enjoyed playing card games, doing jigsaw puzzles and going on long car rides to view the countryside. She also loved music, especially when performed by her girls. Most important to Ele was time spent with family, greatly loving the company of her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Ele was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 66 years, Clifford. She is survived by sister, Lillian Gehring of Lemond; daughters Mona Grote (Gary) of Wausau, WI, Cindy Chapman (Steve) of Minneapolis, MN and Dede Jorstad (Jor) of Minnetonka, MN; grandchildren Jesse Grote (Brier), Nathaniel Chapman (Erin), Shelby Grote, Rebekah Lunn (Austin), Siri Jorstad and Gunnar Jorstad; great-grandchildren Elliot, Jemma and Eden Grote, Graeme and Levi Chapman and Hokan and Rune Lunn. The memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Lincoln Ave S, Owatonna, MN 55060 on Thursday, June 8th at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. and a light lunch will follow the service. Burial will then take place at St. John's Cemetery, 236 12th St NE, Owatonna. All are welcome. Preference for memorials is Trinity Lutheran Church. Arrangements are being made by Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna. Visitation: 06/08/2017 13:00 06/08/2017 14:00 Service: 06/08/2017 14:00