Eleanor Rieland

Eleanor A. Rieland, age 98 of New Munich died Friday, March 24, 2006 at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church in New Munich. St. Anne's Christian Mothers and Catholic Aid will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Eleanor Rieland was born August 30, 1907 in Meire Grove, Minnesota to John and Anna (Caspers) Nathe. She was united in marriage to Leo H. Rieland on October 3, 1928 in Meire Grove. The couple farmed south of New Munich until 1965. Eleanor was the first woman Eucharist Minister at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She cooked meals for weddings in New Munich and made quilts for her family and the Courage Center in Golden Valley. After her husband Leo passed away, she enjoyed fishing at Big Birch Lake with her family. Eleanor was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Aid Council and St. Anne's Christian Mothers. She served as president of the Melrose Deanery in the 1950's.

Survivors include her children, Robert Rieland and his wife, Ruth Ann of Sauk Centre, Charles Rieland and his wife, Lucille of Fridley, Giles Rieland and his wife, Barbara of Melrose and Barbara Anderson and her husband, Hunter of Cambridge; daughter-in-law, Monica Rieland of New Munich; 25 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; and her sister, Sr. Margretta Nathe, O.S.B. at St. Scholastica in St. Cloud.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo Rieland on August 11, 1980; sons, Marvin on November 12, 1996 and Vernon on August 17, 1999; daughter-in-law, Luella Rieland; sisters and brothers, Marcella Nathe, Leander Nathe, Armella Welle, Father Giles Nathe, O.S.B. and Sister Ellenice Nathe, O.S.B.

Serving as casket bearers are Dan Rieland, Steve Rieland, Jim Rieland, Roger Rieland, Greg Rieland and Ryan Anderson. Serving as cross bearer is Lori Uphoff and Scripture bearer is Tyler Schmiesing. Honorary bearers are St. Anne's Christian Mothers and Immaculate Conception Catholic Aid Council.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich.