Eleanor F. Behnke

Eleanor Fitter Behnke, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2024, at the age of 90. A longtime resident of Beltsville, MD, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roland Behnke. She is survived by her children, Jeanne Behnke Byrnes (James), Mark Behnke (Charlene), and Carl Behnke (Sara). She had seven grandchildren: Ian (Lisa), Christian, Timothy, Benjamin, Emily, Nicholas and Michael (Alexis).  She had one great-grandchild, Lyanna. Eleanor was born in New York City (Queens). She often reminisced about her youth during WWII and living in NYC with her German immigrant parents and family members. An only child, she was especially close to her cousin Hilda Schwelnus.  In 1947, her family moved to Omaha, NE, where she completed high school, later graduating in 1956 from Midland Lutheran College in Lincoln, NE. She treasured her Midwest background throughout her life. After graduation, she taught second grade and during that time met Roland Behnke, a young Air Force Lieutenant stationed in Lincoln. They married in 1957 and she began her career as an Air Force Officer’s wife. Together with their three children, she followed Roland to many military stations located across the U.S., including Arizona, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Washington, DC, and overseas to Japan and Puerto Rico. When she wasn’t raising children and managing the next move, she was active in military wives’ clubs. When Roland retired from the Air Force in 1976, they moved to Beltsville to work at the family business, Behnke Nurseries. Ele, as she was more commonly known, played a key role in many aspects of the plant growing business, but her favorite job was running the famous Behnke Nurseries Christmas shop with her sister-in-law, Sonja. She and Sonja would create a magical shop full of Christmas decorations and make friends with many loyal customers. Christmas was her favorite time of the year, and she was known to decorate as many as four trees in her own home. She was also an active member of PEO International, serving several different roles in her chapter and participating in many charitable endeavors. In 1988, she and Roland built their dream log home on St. Inigoes Creek in Southern Maryland. When she retired there, she was able to indulge in her numerous hobbies including traveling, cooking, gardening, sewing and crafts. She always enjoyed crafting and made beautiful embroidery and needlepoint canvases and was known for quilting. She loved to make garments, including wedding dresses. A lifelong Lutheran, Ele served as a teacher and secretary in her church. She was a great example to all and will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice .