Margaret Fitzgerald and Hugh Veit

Eleanor Helen Stoltenow was born Oct. 14, 1916 in Great Bend, ND. She
graduated from Wahpeton, ND High School. Majoring in Home Economics
Education, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from North Dakota
State University in 1938. She taught in Edgeley, ND and later in Dilworth, MN. On
Aug. 6, 1949 she married Clifford J. “Doc” Fitzgerald and they made their home in
Dilworth.

Eleanor worked for the University of Minnesota Extension Office in Clay County
and was promoted to the rank of assistant professor in 1953. The state leader of
extension programs, Dorothy Simmons, said Mrs. Fitzgerald showed “skill and
originality in the organizations work with rural people.” Many women
participated in her programming and developed qualities of leadership as a result
of her efforts. Eleanor was described as a “leader among the home agents in her
area. She was respected for her judgement and ability to train new agents.” Later
in her career, she also did special projects for NDSU Extension including a
demonstration segment called “Ask Eleanor” on the local TV show Dialing for
Dollars.

Eleanor and Doc had two daughters, Mary and Margaret. Margaret married Hugh
Veit in 1989 and they have two children, Lauren and Matthew.

Eleanor was active in the National Home Demonstration Agents’ Association, the
Fargo-Moorhead Area Home Economists Association, First United Methodist
Church and United Methodist Women in Fargo, ND. She and Doc enjoyed
spending summers at Blanche Lake in Minnesota.