Eleanor "Jeannie" DeKnikker, 80 formerly of Oldham and Lake Preston died peacefully at the Arlington Care and Rehabilitation Center in Arlington on Saturday, March 4, 2017, surrounded by her family. 

Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Oldham Baptist Church in Oldham with the Rev. Gordon Elliott officiating. 

Burial is in the Oldham City Cemetery.  Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Friday in the church and preceding services on Saturday.  The Johnson-Henry Funeral Home of Arlington is in charge of arrangements. 

Eleanor Groce was born on July 5, 1936, on the family farm in Lake County to John Henry and Maud Viola (Borah) Groce. She was the 10th of 11 children.  

Jeannie married Kenneth DeKnikker  on Dec. 18, 1954, at Oldham. They had five children. Jeannie worked as a teachers aid in Oldham, then at the Co-op Service Station and cooked at L&L Cafe in Oldham for 20 plus years.  

She also cleaned the American State Bank for 50 years as well as cleaning for anyone in need.  Jeannie was a kind, generous, helpful, faithful, loving spirit-filled woman of God.  She was a dedicated church member of the Oldham Baptist Church. 

Her steadfast faith and love were the pillars of her family. She was a treasure and will be greatly missed.  Many people benefited from her kindness, her sweet spirit and her prayers.  

She is survived by her five children, Gregory (Audrey) DeKnikker of Belle Fourche, Kenny (Melissa) DeKnikker of Faribault, Minn., Deann (Gary) Sundberg of Volga, Darin (Stacey) DeKnikker of Chino Hills, Calif., and Kayleen (Paul) Caron of Faribault, Minn., 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Fern and Doris; three brothers, Earnest, Alvin and Doug, many other relatives and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her husband; a sister and three brothers, a daughter-in-law and a grandson.