Eleanora Welle-Motis

Eleanora T. Welle-Motis, age 94 of Sauk Centre, passed away Sunday, December 11, 2011 at the St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 15 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. James Statz officiating. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church.Eleanora Theresa Kolb was born January 10, 1917 in Greenwald, Minnesota to John and Mary (Walters) Kolb.

Eleanor grew up on a farm in Greenwald and the skills she learned growing up never left her. She always had a large garden and carried on many home keeping skills including a love for sewing, quilting, and embroidery. She used her talents to provide many items for various churches including curtains and baptismal gowns. Eleanor was united in marriage to William Welle on May 17, 1937. She worked as Bill's partner in the Lakeview Ballroom, the Corner Bar and the Malloy Factory. After William's passing, she later married Benjamin Motis with whom she enjoyed 18 years of marriage. These two enjoyed their days fishing, gardening, traveling and being with their families.

Eleanor was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, Sauk Centre Seniors, and a senior citizens quilting group.

Survivors include her children, S. Janice Welle, OSF of St. Cloud, Norine (Bartley) Larson of Minnetonka, Ruth Ann (Jim) Herickhoff of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and Thomas (Karen) Welle of Monticello; seven grandchildren, Christina Welle, Terri Welle, Geri Gambucci, Angela Welle, Leah McMullan, Linda Elmquist, and Lisa Herickhoff; seven great-grandchildren, Shelby Gambucci, Katie, Mackenzie, Kayla, and Kellie McMullan, and Evelyn and William Elmquist; and step-children, Marcie Jacobsen, Betty Sherlin, Ben Motis, and Kathy Haupert.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, William Welle on April 30, 1978; second husband, Benjamin Motis on May 22, 1997; parents, John and Mary Kolb; and sister, Martha Hansen.Serving as casket bearers will be Jim Herickhoff, Bart Larson, Bill Elmquist, Ryan Gambucci, Gary Hansen, and Ron Kolb.