Eleanor Mae Montgomery Kneebone was born August 29, 1935, to Homer and Cordie Payne Montgomery in Boulder CO. As the youngest of eight children, Eleanor was quickly dubbed “Babe,” the nickname she carried throughout her life.
Babe grew up on farms and loved caring for animals and the land. She was the highly prized babysitter for numerous nieces and nephews provided by her siblings. She stayed in Boulder and after high school went to Arkansas. Then she returned to Boulder, first at a waitress job, then in the shipping room at the Western Cutlery.
By early 1955, she was at work at the Alba Dairy. “I met Eleanor when I came back from Korea,” says the man she waited on one day. “She was working as a soda jerk at the dairy. I ordered a Black Walnut Malt, but she said they didn’t sell those. Then she said, ‘But I’ll make one for you.’ At that point we started dating and got married August 28th,1955,” said Clarence Kneebone, her husband of nearly seventy years.
Eleanor and Clarence bought ten acres just outside Boulder, and soon were living the farm life, raising cattle, hogs, and chickens. They added two children to the mix, Wayne and Lisa. Before long both kids were showing their cattle in 4H at the Boulder County Fair. “We all worked the farm,” says Clarence. “Eleanor and the kids and I would load up the trailer with hogs, then I’d go to work, the kids to school, and Eleanor would drive the truck to the railhead.”
Even as their own kids grew up, Babe and Clarence continued to volunteer countless hours over decades to the Boulder County Fair, helping other children in 4H, Eleanor fundraising for the programs. She also worked at several local daycares.
“Eleanor was great at teasing the tails,” says Clarence. “That’s getting the cows ready for showing, fluffing their tails and spraying them with hairspray. She was so good at it I once volunteered her help to a guy with twenty bulls. She made those bulls look great, and then she and the kids helped show them. But she told me not to volunteer her again.”
“Aunt Babe never met a child or an animal she didn’t like,” says one of the cousins. “And she always went out of her way to nurture them, regardless of species.” We love you. Rest in Peace, Babe.
Eleanor Kneebone is survived by her husband, Clarence Kneebone, her children Wayne Kneebone (Lori) of Nebraska, and Lisa Kneebone (Carrie) of Westminster. Other survivors include eight special loving grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Eleanor was a great mother and a wonderful wife.
A visitation will be held for Eleanor on Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Howe Mortuary located at 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, Colorado 80501. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Valmont Community Presbyterian Church located at 3262 61st Street Boulder, Colorado 80301. A reception will follow the service. At 1:30 p.m. Eleanor will be laid to rest at Green Mountain Cemetery located at 290 20th Street Boulder, Colorado 80302. To view the recording of the service please visit https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTfD3onjasJ
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Eleanor Kneebone 4H Scholarship Fund http://bouldercountyfair.saffirereview.com/p/about/donate or the American Cancer Society.
Services in care of Howe Mortuary of Longmont.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com
