“I was hatched, I was matched, I was snatched”  - Eleanor Johnson, June 2026.

Eleanor Louise Reinhold was born April 27, 1945 in Spearfish, South Dakota, in the Spearfish Nursing Home as Dr. Betts couldn’t use the Spearfish Hospital, so he came up with his own location. She was the daughter of Wilhelm and Emma (Smith) Reinhold. Eleanor’s family lived in Spearfish until she was four years of age. They moved to Beulah, Wyoming before returning to Spearfish for school, through 4th grade. They then moved to Idaho, until she lived until graduating high school in 1963. Eleanor came to Black Hills State University for college. She met and married Richard (Dick) Johnson, after meeting in square dance class six weeks before. She graduated from college in 1967 with a degree in Education, which was fitting with her love of books and reading.

Eleanor raised four children and took pride in caring for the home. She was never a housewife, “I didn’t marry the house,” but maintained the home and ranched with her husband for over 60 years.

Eleanor’s practical, down-to-earth dry humor was not always understood by others but was often used as the voice of reason to her children throughout their lives. Her love of books, reading, quilting, and baking made a warm and welcome home for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Anyone who knew Eleanor loved her famous homemade buns and her beautiful quilts, made with love for special events throughout the years.

Eleanor’s positive spirit and kindness to others was present until the end of her time on this earth, with her medical team making a special effort to stop by when she had appointments, and commenting on Eleanor and Dick’s relationship and support for one another and their genuine enjoyment of getting to know Eleanor. Her legacy continues through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and their commitment to living up to her diplomatic and accepting attitude toward others.

Eleanor when home to heaven at the age of 81 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. She is preceded in death by her parents Wilhelm Theodore and Emma Catherine (Smith) Reinhold, siblings Eldon (Chris) Reinhold, and Eloise (Reinhold) Watson. Grateful for sharing her life are her husband Richard, children Frederick “Fritz” (Jana) Johnson, Eric (Laurie) Johnson, Amy Bochman, and Karen Cordie (partner Richard Highland), grandchildren Joseph (Hailey) Johnson, Isabel (Wyatt) Harris, James Johnson, Owen Johnson, Mathias Johnson, Kristy (Robert) Schlesselman, CJ (Kelsey) Johnson, Katherine (Levi) Veal, Leidy Bochman, Cory Cordie (partner Samantha Thomas), Rebecca Cordie, Elizabeth Cordie (partner Aspyn Florey), step-grandchildren Nathan Highland and Brooke Highland, as well as eleven great-grandchildren: Charlotte Johnson, Gideon Johnson, Lariat Harris, Latigo Harris, Wayne Johnson, Gwen Schlesselman, Londyn Schlesselman, Lyra Johnson, William Veal, Caspian Veal, and Arthur Veal.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Mud Butte Fire Department o St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization Eleanor supported for many years for the services provided to families.

The funeral service will be held 11am Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at the Prairie Home Church near Mud Butte and Faith SD. 

Visitation will take place 5 to 7pm Monday at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.