Doris Eleanore Sage, age 97, Carthage, Missouri went home to be with her heavenly father on November 24, 2020, with family by her side.
Doris was born December 8, 1922, to Harrison and Ina (Smith) Sage in Dickens, IA.
Eleanore started school at Pennock, MN. The family moved to Sterling, KS in 1929, where her maternal grandparents lived. She had many lifelong friends from her school years. She was a twirler in the band and always enjoyed seeing a good marching band. Her father owned a roller rink and Eleanore became an accomplished skater. Reportedly able to leap over barrels, etc.!! She was always ready to try something new from tap dancing to skiing. It was a skiing accident that slowed her down in 1962 when her knee was crushed in a tow rope. After graduating from high school, her family moved to Hutchinson, KS where Eleanore worked at the Crown Drug Store for four years as “assistant manager in training” because of the shortage of druggists during World War II. She attended a night course in mechanical drawing and drafting at Hutchinson Jr. College, sponsored by Cessna Aircraft Co.
In 1943, Eleanore married John Armstrong Jr. (Navy). They had one child, Sheryl Lee. In 1946, Eleanore married Theodore C. Lenker (Navy), of Ericson, NE. They made their home in Ord, NE where he was owner-operator of Lenker Machine Shop. To this union Marsha Kay was born.
Along with being an excellent homemaker and raising her two girls, she worked as a bookkeeper for three years at Sack Lumberyard, and then she bought and ran Eleanore’s New and Used Clothing Store for eight years. She was the recipient of the yearly Business Professional Women’s Award.
She belonged to the hospital auxiliary and for many years while her girls were growing up, she was a dedicated Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher. After her girls left home, she partnered with Ted in custom building small motor homes. They enjoyed fishing and traveling together and were blessed to travel all over the United States in their motor home. Their favorite destination was the Rocky Mountains.
At the age of 52, Eleanore accepted Christ as her personal savior to become a born-again Christian; she was a member of the Evangelical Free Church of Ord. and attended Calvary Baptist Church after moving to Carthage, MO.
Ted Lenker drowned in a boating accident in 1978. It was after his death she purchased her beloved “Victory Hill” 12 miles in the country. Her bed was in a loft and she had to climb a ladder straight up to get to it. She continued to travel taking several tours with friends, visiting Marsha in North Carolina and in 1993 she and Sheryl chaperoned a Kearney State College swing choir on a tour of Germany, Prague and Austria. She lived alone for several years serving her church, teaching bible study and providing transportation for several elderly widows. Tragedy struck again in May 1969 when her 19-year-old granddaughter was hit by a drunk driver while walking down the street. Eleanore was Sheryl’s rock and helped with Kelly as long as she was able.
In 1998, Eleanore married Hal A. Pierce a longtime family friend. Mr. Pierce died in 2003. By 2012 she decided she needed to be close to family and moved to Carthage, Missouri where she cared for and lived by herself until September 2019.
Preceding her in death were her parents and one brother, Gerald D. Sage (U.S. Coast Guard), four years her senior whom she adored. He was her hero and protector. And also, granddaughter, Kelly Burton.
Survivors are two daughters, Sheryl Lee (Dean) Gokie, of Carthage, MO, Marsha Kay (Rod) Tripp, of Southern Pines, NC; grandchildren, Jana, Jeff, Tim, Kim, Mike, Steve, Mark, Ashley, Cassie, Brett and Wendi; six great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Sandy (Pierce) Knight, Capt. Robert (Nancy) Pierce, Tom (Ann) Pierce and Jan (Pierce) Jones; as well as a host of extended family and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, Carthage, Missouri. Interment will held in Ord, NE at a later date.
Cremation Arrangements are under the care and direction of Parker Mortuary.
