Eleanor Anita Lieb was born October 29, 1921, the third child of Edgar John Lieb, Sr. and Alice (Case) Lieb in East Saint Louis, Illinois.  She attended neighborhood schools and graduated from East Saint Louis High School in 1939.

In the fall of 1939 she began attending Denver Bible Institute (now Colorado Christian University). As a freshman she met a young man with a large personality by the name of Clarence Swihart.  Upon her graduation in 1943, they were married at the home of Eleanor's parents.  The young couple continued to live in Denver and worked at the school.  They soon moved to Illinois where they pastored two small churches in the Centerville area.

In 1946 they moved to Percival, Iowa to continue their ministry.  Eleanor became a mother, which was her prayer for many years.  Julia was born while they lived in Iowa in 1950, followed by Alison two years later.  In 1952 they moved for a short time to Rossville, Kansas, and then to McDonald, Kansas in October 1953.  Two boys were added to the family--Bruce first, and then Steve.  Clarence and Eleanor and their family continued to live in McDonald until June 19, 1979, when they moved to Illinois to care for Eleanor's parents as they aged.

In 1983, they moved to Camp Id-Ra-He-Je in Bailey, Colorado, where they were on staff.  It was the first time Eleanor had never seen a house before moving into it.  Life came full-circle when they returned to McDonald in the fall of 1987.

Clarence passed away on April 13, 1997.  Eleanor consciously, before God, determined within herself that Clarence's life on this earth might be finished, but hers was not.  She became fearless doing what she felt needed to be done in her home and her community.  Her family was a bit surprised seeing this side of her.  It was during this time that she made several statements: 1. "I never thought I would be so long a widow." 2. "My secrets to a long life are to walk everywhere, and to drink more coffee than water." 3. "I just can't control you kids any more..." and 4. (at about age 92) "I can only walk 20 blocks now instead of 27."  Her offspring hope that by age 92 they can either walk or count to 27.

Eleanor loved to travel and could often be found with one of her children or, as the grandchildren became old enough, with one of them going to new and interesting places, or to the home of one or another of her children.  This was lovingly known as the Grandma Shuttle.  She hosted any of the family who could make it for Thanksgiving from 1994 until 2021, making everyone's favorite pies, and telling about what Scripture she was planning to pray for her family during the following year.

Eleanor moved to St. Francis, Kansas to live with Bruce and Shirley in October of 2021, the same month as her 100th birthday.  Life began to change for her in the spring of 2022 when she fell and broke her hip.  A doctor willing to attempt surgery on someone of her age was located and it was accomplished; the first major surgery she had ever had.  Since that time she continued to live, but with some difficulty getting around, mostly with Bruce and Shirley, but at times going to spend time with Steve and Deb in Westminster, Colorado.  She loved being either place and enjoyed the ebb and flow of busy families, with children, grand and great-grandchildren dropping in often. She was very well cared for.

It was in Westminster at the home of Steve and Deb, that she passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 104 years, 6 months and 17 days.

We know that she is in Heaven today, not based on what she did or who she was, but because of Whose she was.  At the age of 7 she had placed her faith and trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of her sins, and faithfully loved and served Him for the rest of her life.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving husband, Clarence; her parents, Edgar and Alice Lieb; her in-laws, Charles and Alice Swihart; her sisters, Virginia (Paul) Winder and June (Arthur) Waldvogel; her brother Edgar John, Jr (Jane) Lieb; Clarence's siblings, Irene (Ledger) Maxwell, Russell (Bertha), Ralph (Mabel), Harold (Thelma), William (Marian), and Robert (Lucinda) Swihart; a grandson Jonathan Swihart; and several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her children:  Julia (Stephen) Foster, Craig, Colorado; Alison, Kansas City, Missouri; Bruce (Shirley), St. Francis, Kansas; and Stephen (Debra), Westminster, Colorado.  Her grandchildren include:  Scott (Kristen), Kevin (Danielle), David, and Bryan (Beverly) Foster; Karen (Matthew) Huber; Jessica (Nathan) Reusch; Benjamin (Beth Ehorn) and Seth (Megan) Swihart; Adrienne (Nathan) Ehresman; and Stephanie, Melissa, and Christina Swihart.  She is further survived by 19 great grandchildren, two step-great grandchildren, a cousin Millie (the late Paul) Wagner, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would like to thank the people of the McDonald community for helping Eleanor to fulfill her desire to live a home in McDonald until she was nearly 100.  Your kindnesses and caring, watchful eyes were invaluable.  Thank you so much. We are in your debt.

We would also like to thank Bruce and Shirley, Steve and Deb, and all their extended families, for their loving care of Eleanor.