Eleanor A. Doolittle age 85 of Spearfish (formerly of Buffalo SD), died Saturday August 25, 2007 at the Edgewood Vista Senior Living Center in Spearfish.

A Memorial Service will be held 1 pm Friday at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, with Rev. Hans Sacrison officiating. Inurnment will be held in the Whitewood Cemetery, in Whitewood. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Northern Hills Hospice and/or the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department.

Eleanor Alice Semmons was born September 18, 1921 in Vale South Dakota. She was the daughter of LeRoy and Florence (MacKrell) Semmons. Eleanor grew up on the family farm near Vale. She attended grade school at the Empire School and graduated from the Vale High School. For two years, Eleanor attended the Black Hills Commercial College in Rapid City SD and following was employed as a legal secretary to Wynn Bennett in Buffalo SD. During this time she met John L. Doolittle and on January 24, 1942 they eloped to Baker Montana where they were married. Following their marriage, John and Eleanor operated a ranch east of Buffalo and also a hardware and lumber business (Doolittle Hardware and Lumber) for six years. In later years they resided in St. Onge SD and wintered in Green Valley AZ after selling their ranch to their son James.

John and Eleanor were blessed with 56 years of marriage. To this union three children were born: James, Sheila, and LeRoy. John died in 1998. Following his death, Eleanor continued living in Tucson AZ and in 2004 she returned to South Dakota and lived at Edgewood Vista in Spearfish.

To many people, Eleanor will be remembered as being a "Character" with sharp wit, a great sense of humor, and an intelligent mind. Eleanor was a hard worker. She enjoyed collecting antiques and for several years she and John owned and operated an antique store within their home in St. Onge SD. She also enjoyed collecting dolls, and restoring furniture. She was proud of having been a legal secretary and of the hardware store she and John operated. She was a great cook and baker. Eleanor was a funny person and her wit made many people smile. She will be greatly missed.

Eleanor is survived by her sons, Jim (Karen Wagner) Doolittle of Belle Fourche, LeRoy (Linda) Doolittle of Tucson AZ; daughter, Sheila (Bruce) Carlson of Spearfish; 8 grandchildren, Charles, Leslie, Samantha, Leah, Lynette, Amanda, Julia; 4 great grandchildren, CAS, Cooper, Dillon, Zachary; and 2 brothers, Jack (Mirande) Semmons of Alpine AZ, Jerry (Marylee) Semmons of San Manuel AZ; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; grandson, Max; and sisters, Peggy Jones and Judy Smith.