Family, friends say goodbye to Eleanor McGovern

| Sunday, January 28, 2007

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The Associated Press

MITCHELL -- More than 150 friends and relatives of Eleanor McGovern said their final goodbyes in Mitchell on Saturday.

The wife of former Sen. George McGovern died at the age of 85 after years of heart problems.

Those who gathered at First United Methodist Church Saturday afternoon listened to tributes and shared memories that spanned several generations.

George McGovern, who served in the U.S. House from South Dakota from 1957-61 and was a U.S. senator from 1963 to 1981, eulogized his wife of 63 years with humorous stories that offered insight into the kind of woman she was.

He told of how she once complained after a funeral that the speakers were weak and made him promise to speak at her service.

"I don't know how anyone condemned to a lifetime of listening to speeches by George McGovern would want yet another one," McGovern said. "But at the 'Queen's' request, you must listen to me for a few more minutes."

The 1972 Democratic presidential nominee then quoted from the William Yeats poem "Politics."

"With that girl standing there, how can I fix my attention on politics. Oh, if I were young again, and held that girl in my arms."

George McGovern said the verse described the day well, as all attention was focused on "that girl, laying there so serenely."

Others who came to offer condolences included Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., former Dakota Wesleyan University president and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Beddow, former public utilities commissioner Jim Burg, and Sharon Boysen, representing Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D.

One McGovern who spoke during the service was not a relative.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., served as a staff intern in the senator's office in the 1970s. He recalled his first meeting with Eleanor, saying she was beautiful, soft spoken and a great American patriot.

"Each and every word she spoke was eloquent," the Massachusetts lawmaker said. "She was a woman of strong views, beliefs and convictions."

Two of Eleanor McGovern's grandsons, Matthew McGovern-Rowen and Sam Rowen, spoke of their grandmother's love of family.

"She gave the biggest hugs of anybody I've ever met," McGovern-Rowen said. Though she was only about 5 feet tall, "she could break your back with a hug."

Family members after the service headed to Graceland Cemetery, where Eleanor McGovern's grandchildren carried her casket in the blustery winds to her final resting place, about 40 miles from her birthplace near Woonsocket.

George and Eleanor McGovern were partners in a lifetime of endeavors.

Their last was the completion of the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Her failing health forced her to miss the dedication ceremony, which featured remarks by former President Bill Clinton and music by the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.