Eleanor Kruger

Eleanor Marie (Heitkamp) Kruger, 87, passed away on Saturday, Feb 10, 2024, at a care home in Woodinville, Washington.

A visitation for Eleanor will be held from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Evergreen Washelli, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2024, at St. Brendan 10100 NE 192nd St., Bothell, Washington, followed by a burial at Holyrood Cemetery for the close family. A reception for all will be held after the burial, at 2 p.m. at the Wandering Creek Club House at 240th St. SW & Willow Cir. Bothell.

Eleanor was born on Apr 12, 1936 near Barney, North Dakota, to Bernard and Lucy Heitkamp. She grew up on the family farm with her 10 brothers and sisters, Raymond, Vernon, Arnold, Elizabeth, Ralph, Herbert, Patricia, Dennis, Delores and Mary Ellen. After graduating from Wyndmere High, she helped a friend move to Seattle, where she ended up staying. In Seattle, she met Howard Kruger and they were married on July 19, 1960. They started their family on Capitol Hill in Seattle and eventually moved to Ballard to raise their sons. They retired and lived in the Wandering Creek neighborhood of Bothell, and were married for 48 years until his death in 2008.

Eleanor was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She raised five sons and enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years and later worked as a telephone switchboard operator at Northwest Hospital. In retirement, Eleanor enjoyed volunteering in her community at Wandering Creek and enjoying time and games with her many friends. She had a kind, generous heart, and a warm & cheerful personality. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Eleanor is survived by her sons Jim, Charlie, Gary, Mike and Mark, her eight grandchildren Kacy and Mechealle (Charlie), Justin and Makenzie (Gary), Jeff and Josh (Mike), Audrey and Megan (Mark), and three great-grandchildren Jackson (Justin), Kellen and Zoey (Kacy), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Arrangements are by Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home in Seattle.