Eleanor L. Berkley, 92, Tescott, died Thursday, April 10, 2025. She was born on the family farm near Tescott on Tuesday, June 7, 1932, to Carl and Ruth (Lane) Christenson.
Eleanor attended school in Tescott and was a 1949 graduate of Tescott High School.
After graduation, she worked at the Salina Journal Newspaper until marrying Hal Berkley on August 30, 1952. They then moved to Lawrence until 1955 when Hal graduated from KU and then they moved back to Tescott.
In her younger years, she loved to golf and she was on a bowling team for many years. She was known for her famous coconut cream pies that she donated for many Lions Club dinners and other fundraising events, and she would bake birthday cakes for all the Bank of Tescott employees. Even though she was terrified of water, Eleanor taught many kids how to swim in their pool. She volunteered countless hours in Tescott, and she never met a stranger. She was a longtime member of the Tescott United Methodist Church where she served as U.M.W. president for 25 years. After retiring, she and Hal enjoyed traveling and following their grandchildren with all of their activities.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, John Spurgeon; and siblings, Clyde Christenson, Alice Woody and her husband, Gerald, and Imogene Von Fange and her husband, Donald.
Survivors are her husband of 72 years, Hal Berkley; children, Karla Spurgeon, Karen Deckert and her husband, Scott, Jeff Berkley and his wife, Denise, and Calvin Berkley and his wife, Tina; sister-in-law, Alma Christenson; grandchildren, Marika Taylor (Adam), Rebekah Berkley (Chris Contee), Brenna Bliven (Patrick), Rachel Berkley (Kyle Herbert), Sam Deckert (Katie), Patrick Spurgeon, Luke Deckert (April Woody), Collin Berkley (Katie) and Megan Berkley; great-grandchildren, Ainsley, Leyton, Harvey, Hadley, Roselyn, Finley, Ivy, Autumn, Elsie, Wesley, Archer, and Hal; step-grandchildren, Tyler Adams (Megan) and Dalton Baker (Starr); step-great-grandchildren, Cadience, Colt, Ashton, Brynleigh, Etta, and Hollis; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 13 from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Wilson Family Funeral Home, 405 Argyle Ave., Minneapolis, KS 67467. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Monday, April 14 at the Tescott United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Franklin Cemetery, Tescott.
Memorials may be made to the Tescott United Methodist Church or the Ottawa County Community Foundation and may be left in care of the funeral home.