Eleanore C. Wink, 89

On a beautiful summer morning, Eleanore C. Wink, 89, passed away July 20, 2009, in Whitefish of natural causes. She was born Dec. 8, 1919, in Malta, to Blanche and Edward Clausen, who had homesteaded south of Malta.

After attending schools in Malta and Victor, Eleanore enrolled at Northern Montana College in Havre, where she met and married Irwin A. Wink on July 15, 1943. They lived in Havre, raising their two sons and running the family business until retiring to Bigfork in the early 1980s.

Eleanore was extremely well-read, enjoyed politics, her church, bridge, PEO and was a member of the Havre Hill County Study Commission. Most of all, Eleanore lived for her family and friends, cooking, entertaining and providing a loving home for all to enjoy. She was the rock of the family and a very "proper" lady. Eleanore was loved, respected and admired as a lovely and gracious lady.

Preceding Eleanore in death were her parents, Blanche and Edward Clausen; brother, John Clausen; sister, Grace Loyd; and stepfather, Harry Combs.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Irwin A. Wink, of Whitefish; two sons, Robert Wink of Bigfork, and Scott Wink and wife, Holly, of Havre; two grandchildren, Natalie Mellem and Jerry of Salt Lake City, and Emily Van Heel of North Carolina; five great-grandchildren, Mia, Nadia and Quinn Mellem, and Gage and Brook Van Heel; one brother, Pete Clausen; many wonderful nieces and nephews; and godson, Mike and Vicky Rubie, of Missoula.

Graveside services for Eleanore will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 24, at the Bigfork Cemetery on Swan River Road, with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. at the Bigfork United Methodist Church. Memorials may be sent to the Bigfork PEO, c/o Lynnell Smith, 104 Baylie Dr., Bigfork, MT 59911; or Northern Montana College Foundation, P.O. Box 1691, Havre, MT 59501.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Eleanore's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Eleanore's guest book.