Elenore M. Sagehorn, 70, of Sparta died Monday, December 1, 2008 in her home. She was born on December 20, 1937 in Minneapolis, MN to Fred and Catherine (Wieger) Longen. She grew up in Minneapolis. After high school she worked for Phillip’s 66 for five years, and then was a nurses aid.

     She married Craig Sagehorn on February 13, 1962 in Norfolk, VA. The lived in Norfolk for six years while Craig served in the U.S. Navy. After the service they lived in Minneapolis for the next 10 years and moved to Sparta in July of 1976.

     She is survived by her husband, Craig of Sparta; children, Catherine (John) Feltes of Prescott, WI and their four children, Kelsey, Jeff, Jamie, Kylie; Lori (John) Stefanko of Rosemount, MN and their four children, Matthew, Ellie, Mike, Annie; Paul (Kristina) Sagehorn of Sparta and their three children, Tara, Hank, Wyatt; Kristin (Jason) Pulham of Sparta and their two children, Olivia, Andre; Toni (Jesse) Aalberg of Rosemount, MN and their three children, Nick, Elliot, Isabel; two sisters, Marilyn Leuwer and, Alice (Bob) Salek both of Minneapolis; three brothers, John Longen, Paul (Delavan) Longen, and Tony (Carol) Longen all of Minneapolis, MN.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Herbie, Joe, Robert; two sisters, Catherine, and Delores.

     Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta with Father James Leary O.F.M. Cap. officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery.

     Friends and family may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and at the funeral home on Thursday from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m.

     For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

     And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

     Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

     And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

     And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.