Eleanor O. "Ellie" Renfro (Manhold)

SIOUX CITY -- Our mother, Eleanor O. "Ellie" Renfro, died peacefully in her sleep after a lengthy illness at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas, Nev., on Aug. 13, 2009. Ellie was a former Sioux City resident and businesswoman.

Celebration of life services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City, with the Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Private family burial will be at a later date. Visitation one hour before the service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to { www.christysmith.com .

Ellie was born on Monday, Nov. 30, 1925, at Maternity Hospital in Sioux City. She was named Eleanora Orise Manhold, which she later changed to Eleanor, then Ellie. Her parents were Edward R. and Orise M. Manhold. She was baptized on Dec. 20, 1925, at St. Jean Church. At the age of five, Ellie started school at Bancroft. She also attended Hopkins, West Jr., and Central, graduating in 1943. She was a resident of Sioux City until 1986, when she moved to Las Vegas.

When she was three years old, Ellie's brother, Carl, was born. At the age of five, she was credited for saving her brother's life from a gas leak. She had diphtheria when she was six and almost died. May 8, 1932, she made her first communion at the Cathedral in Sioux City.

As a teenager, she worked for A&W as a carhop on roller skates. During World War II, she relocated to Santa Monica, Calif., and worked as one of America's "Rosie the Riveters." After the war, she came back to Sioux City. She was a self-taught accountant with a true gift for figures. In 1955, she started a tax and bookkeeping business on her kitchen table with a four-week-old baby by her side. She was a pioneer for women working in the 1950's. She continued preparing taxes until her death. This business is still being run by family members.

She married Earl Edwards in July 1943, in Sioux City. In April 1954, she married Dwight Renfro in Sioux City.

When we were kids, she was active in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was coordinator for Kids Day and many other activities at Morningside Country Club for many years as well as an avid golfer. She was an adamant tournament bridge player, achieving Gold Life Master, a rank that made her proud. She was an Enrolled Agent and an Accounting Practitioner. She was coordinator for many tax seminars in Sioux City. She was very proud of her country and of being a member of the greatest generation. As a lifelong Democrat, she remained active in the party, casting her last vote for change. She gave us the love of music, dance, gardening, cooking and canning, among many other things. She loved her family, cats, computer, C.S.I. and Dancing With The Stars.

Four children are left to cherish her memory, Tom Renfro of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Mark Renfro and his wife, Barb of Sioux City, Risa Marx and her husband, Scott of Sioux City and Kelly Renfro and his wife, Sue of Sioux City; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Walker of Grand Island, Neb.; three nieces; one nephew; and her feline companions, Charlie and Meka.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Wilfred Bernard; an infant sister, Anna Marie; her beloved brother, Carl Manhold; and an infant son, Earl B. Edwards, Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Heather Berkenpas, Ryan Renfro, Josh Marx, Ross Renfro, Marissa Marx, Sami Renfro, Karl Renfro, Kasey Renfro, Mady Berkenpas and Brody Berkenpas.

We want to give a special thanks to John and Josephine Militello of Las Vegas for all their love, support and help they gave our mother over the years. Thank you to Nathan Adelson Hospice for giving her a peaceful place to be in her final days.

To mom, thanks for giving us life and teaching us to live it to the fullest. We will cherish your memories until we see you again.