Eleanor DeBates

Eleanor J. DeBates, age 82 of Garretson, SD, formerly of Jasper, passed away at her home on September 6, 2025.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1:00 PM Thursday, September 11, 2025, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Garretson. Inurnment will follow at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Jasper, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson.

In lieu of flowers family request memorials which will be directed to St. Rose of Lima Church, Garretson Food Pantry, Garretson Parks, Garretson Community Ambulance and Garretson Fire Dept.

Eleanor Jane Thulin, daughter of Claude and June (DeVoe) Thulin was born November 1, 1942 in Luverne, MN.

She grew up on the farm south of Garretson. She graduated from Garretson High School in 1960. Then she moved to Sioux Falls, SD and worked as a bookkeeper until her marriage.

Eleanor was united in marriage with James DeBates on May 26, 1962 in Jasper, MN. The couple farmed near Jasper.

Eleanor worked as a teller at Jasper State bank, then Peoples Bank until she retired in 2014.

Eleanor was a member of St Joseph Catholic Church, Jasper, MN until it closed, then St Rose of Lima, Garretson, SD.

For many years she ran the clock for the girls’ volleyball and girls’ basketball until the Jasper High school closed. She taught CCD on Thursdays at St Joseph. She was a member of the Alter Society. She was in a couple of Card Clubs.

She enjoyed reading and playing Mahjongh and volunteering at the Jasper Library.

Eleanor is survived by her husband, James; daughters, Angela (Gregg) Kringen, Aimee (James) Noeske, Audrey (Wally) Wohlleber; and sons, Keith (Susan) and Kevin; Grandkids; and her sisters, Barb Olund, and Betty (Robert) Julson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and June; and a brother, Orville Thulin; brother-in-law, Roger Olund.