Eleanor Lillian Niska

Eleanor Lillian (Erickson) Niska, 86, returned to her Father in Heaven to receive her crown on September 25, 2026.

Eleanor was born July 12, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, to Andrew Erickson and Sylvia Paso Erickson. She was raised in Michigan and attended schools there. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper and then payroll secretary for the Livonia schools. On Dec. 31, 1970, Eleanor married Charles Niska in Farmington, Michigan, and moved to Minnesota with her new husband. They raised eight children beginning in Minnesota, then North Dakota, and finally settling in Idaho in 1989.

From the time she married, Eleanor was a faithful wife, homemaker, mother, grandmother, and friend. Charlie felt blessed to have a very good wife in Eleanor and was heard saying, "She is the best wife a man could ever have." She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, reading, puzzles, gardening, weaving carpets on her loom, and yard-saling. Eleanor established many friendships at the farmer's market, garden club, Pregnancy Crisis Center, and her children's school. For a number of years, she was also the order coordinator for the local food buying co-op. Through the years, she faithfully taught her daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters the arts of homemaking which we greatly treasure.

Eleanor is survived by eight children: Matthew (Amelia), Jonathan (Katie), Martin (Jen), Rachel, Cara (George) Young, Seth (Meagan), Paul (Raylene), and Daniel. She is also survived by siblings: Carolyn, Stanley (MaryEllen), Dennis, Gary (Audrey), Norman (Sue), and Mary (Peter); and grandchildren: Katherine, Darren, Craig, Kerri, Katrina, KayLee; Benjamin; Andrew, Nathaniel (Kourtnee), Hannah (Justin), Noah, Abigail, Levi, Kaden, Zane; Sylvia, George, Timothy, Martha, Thomas, Rebecca, Elizabeth; Anna, Laura, Ezra, Ellen, Lilly, Candace, Markus, Leo, Edith, Leena; Loretta, Stanley, Elaina; Mila; and twelve great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband, Charlie; one daughter, Ann Rebecca; one son, Roger Alan; one granddaughter, Lillian Marie; a number of stillborn and miscarried grandchildren; her parents; and siblings: Ellwood, Ron (Beth), Helen (Bob), John (Kay), and Norma-Jean.

Eleanor was a woman who clung to her faith in Christ through troubles and trials. She had a kind and gentle spirit, along with an orderly standard that encouraged the best in those around her. Eleanor will be greatly missed by those who were blessed to cross her path.

A viewing will be held Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Farnsworth Mortuary, 1343 S. Lincoln Ave, Jerome, where family and friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., with a viewing beginning at 1 p.m., Friday, October 9, 2026, at Calvary Chapel North Valley, 900 N Lincoln Ave, Jerome. A private interment will follow in the Jerome Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Eleanor's memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.