Eleanor Mary Andersh, 93, of Wagner, daughter of George and Mary (Cuka) Soukup was born on October 6, 1933. She died peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 93 on October 11, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Society in Wagner.

Eleanor attended Big Tobacco Country School for first, second, and eighth grades. For third through seventh grades, she attended a boarding school at the Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor. She graduated from Wagner High School in 1951.

Eleanor married Robert Andersh on June 14, 1955. They lived with her parents-in-law for four months before they moved to a farm north of Dante. They farmed for ten years and during this time, they were blessed with two children, David James and Jean Marie. In 1965, they built a new home in Wagner.

Throughout Eleanor’s life, she worked at various grocery stores in Wagner cashiering, stocking shelves, and doing any other tasks that needed to be done. She helped on the farm doing field work, milking cows, and raising chickens. She also worked at the Fort Randall Casino in the kitchen doing prep work and taking care of the buffet.

Eleanor was not afraid of hard work and was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever she was needed. She took pride in her Czech heritage and enjoyed cooking and baking. She was known for her famous dessert, Poppy Seed Cake. For over 50 years, she hosted a potluck lunch at her home after the Labor Day Parade for family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening, traveling, shopping, and watching and attending sporting events for her family members and the Red Raiders.

Eleanor was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, St. John’s Altar Society, St. John’s Church Choir, Catholic Daughters of America, First Ladies Slovak Association, Wagner Hospital Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, and VFW Auxiliary.

Thankful for having shared her life are son David (Pam) Andersh of Sioux Falls and daughter Jean (Kevin) Nicholson of Rapid City; four grandchildren: April (Zach) Dimmick, Angela (Jason) Arp, Kyle Nicholson and Kari (Matt) Nugent; two great grandchildren: Macey Boese and Bentley Konz; two brothers-in-law: Richard (Dorothy) Andersh of Wagner and Raymond (Marcie) Andersh of Aberdeen; sister-in-law Deanna Andersh of Heron Lake, MN and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert “Bob”; her parents, George and Mary Soukup; her brothers Raymond (Albina) Soukup and Robert (Marie) Soukup; and her sister Mary (Charles) Cimpl; parents-inlaw William and Helen Andersh; brother-in-law Norman Andersh; nephews Bobby Soukup and Gerald Andersh; and niece Joleen Nace.

Funeral mass was held Saturday, October 17 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial was in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Wagner. The funeral was live streamed on the Peters Funeral Home, Wagner, SD Facebook page. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.