Eldore Leier
March 17, 1925-July 20, 2020
Eldore Leier, 95, Minot,
died Monday, July 20,
2020 in her home with
her daughter Paula by her
side.
Eldore was born March
17, 1925 in Tripp, SD to
Otto and Anna (Lagge)
Mehlhoff.
In 1945, Eldore started
in the office as a vital
statistics clerk under clerk
Anna Jones. Eldore, a
Garrison native, attended
Minot State University for
a year and taught a
half-term in a country
school before joining the
clerk’s office.
Eldore left the office in
1948 to start her family,
returning in 1953. She be-
came deputy clerk under
Rose Tossett, who became
clerk in 1955. In 1968,
she was appointed clerk
upon Tossett’s resignation
and won election 5 times.
Eldore was given a
Supreme Court appoint-
ment in 1975 to its ad-
visory management infor-
mations committee. Her
other appointments in-
cluded the court service
administration committee
in 1983, of which she
remained a member, court
records management sub-
committee in 1984 and
state jury standards com-
mittee in 1986. She is a
past president of the state
Clerk of Court Associa-
tion, handling more than
$3 million in child sup-
port payments by comput-er. It files all civil, crimi-
nal and juvenile actions
plus divorces and damage
actions. That is in addi-
tion to setting up trials,
swearing in witnesses and
processing court tran-
scripts for three judges.
Under the unified court
system, the three Minot
judges and two Williston
judges are part of the
northwest district, which
is quite different from
working with one judge
back in 1945. Eldore had
mixed emotions about re-
tiring because her job had
been her way of life for so
many years. She always
said it was a great experi-
ence working with all the
lawyers and judges during
her career.
In retirement she en-
joyed traveling and life
outside of work. She was
kind to anyone who need-
ed help and was a very
compassionate woman.
We have so many happy
memories of our mom.
After working she would
come home and cook a
wonderful dinner with
dessert. She had a great
sense of humor; we al-
ways had so much fun.
We will always remember
her laughter and that
twinkle in her dark brown
eyes. Because of her intui-
tive spirit, she always
knew when something
was wrong. We could talk
to her about anything.
Everyone told us she was
the sweetest woman they
have ever known. We
were very proud and
blessed to have her as our
“Mother.”
Eldore was a member of
Christ Lutheran Church.
Eldore’s loving family
includes daughters Paula
Laroque, Missoula, MT
and Minot and Kathy (Lar-
ry) Leone, El Cajon, CA;
grandsons Jesse Luxem,
Missoula, MT and Robert
(Kim) Irwin, San Diego,
CA; great-grandchildren,
Sarah Bidlake and Isaac
and Audrey Erwin; sisters
Aldine Grindy, Minneapo-lis, MN and JeanAnne
Sneed, Fargo, ND and
brother Rollin (Barb)
Mehlhoff, Bismarck, ND
along with numerous
nieces and nephews.
Eldore was preceded in
death by her parents,
brothers Vilo, Dale ‘Bud’
and Melvin Mehlhoff;
brothers-in-law Jack
Sneed and Louie Grindy,
dear friend and compan-
ion Leo Vandel and form-
er spouse Lee Leier.
Celebration of Eldore’s
Life: 1:00 p.m. Wednes-
day, August 5, 2020 at the
Thomas Family Funeral
Home, Minot.
Memories and con-
dolences can be shared at
www.thomasfamily
funeralhome.com