Eleanor M. Lease

Eleanor M. (Fish) Lease, age 82, of North St. Paul, passed away on September 3rd, 2020.​Eleanor was born October 30th, 1937 in St. Paul, MN to Clyde and Clarice (Halvorson) Fish.​Preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Jim and John; and her husband, Don.​Growing up in Maplewood she spent many happy days riding her horse. She graduated from North High School in 1955 and attended the University of MN where she studied veterinary medicine.​After her marriage to Don they lived on Como Place in St. Paul but Eleanor missed the rural life and in 1966 they moved to Hugo.​Don and Eleanor were involved in forming the Como Zoo Docents and along with raising their sons they also hand raised lion cubs, a timber wolf and a jaguar cub for the zoo. After working as bookkeeper at Taco John's of MN for several years, Eleanor returned to the University of MN where she studied Life Sciences & Natural Resources earning her bachelor degree in 1999. Eleanor worked for the University of MN until she and Don retired to their home on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais at the edge of BWCA. After Don's death Eleanor moved to North Saint Paul to be closer to her sons, granddaughters, and old friends. We will always remember her as a fiercely independent woman, who was proud of her Norwegian heritage, with a fondness for witches and Halloween, and as a loving mother and grandmother. Always embracing life and her favorite quote: "Well-behaved women rarely make history".​Eleanor is survived by her sons, David and Steven; and granddaughters, Amanda Kruse , Sarah and Emily Lease.​A visitation to celebrate Eleanor's life will be held from 3-6 PM Thursday, September 17 at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME - ROSEVILLE, 2130 N. Dale St. @ County Rd B.​Private family interment: Roselawn Cemetery.