Eleanor F. Barton

Eleanor Frances (Heun) Barton, age 92, of Ames, Iowa, after developing some heart issues, passed away surrounded by family on Sept 16, 2026. She was the youngest of 13 children of Norbert and Frances Heun, of Iowa. Born on Dec 21st, 1933, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, she was the only one of her siblings to be born in a hospital.

After the death of her mother when she was 3 years old, she grew up living with different family members in the north central part of Iowa and graduated high school from Humboldt High School. At the age of 17 she met Earl Barton and they went on their first date to the Iowa State Fair. Young Earl won her heart, and they were married on June 26, 1952 in Lu Verne, Iowa at the United Methodist Church. They lived on the family farm with Georgia and Ervin Barton (Earl’s parents) after buying a schoolhouse, moving it to the farm, and remodeling it so they could live in it. They lived in the schoolhouse until his parents died and then took over the farm. They farmed there until they retired when Earl was 55.

Eleanor worked alongside her husband on the farm caring for livestock, raising crops, and gardening. Everyone remembers her beautiful hollyhocks and her many cats. Fluffy was her favorite cat who was the only cat allowed to be in the house. They bought a boat in 1977 and began the tradition of boating at Lake Cornelia on Saturdays in the summer. It included enjoying picnicking (s’mores were always included!), swimming, and water skiing. Earl refused to drive the boat if Eleanor wasn’t with him. Earl and Eleanor loved going dancing and did it every chance they got. They loved doing the two-step to country music. They also enjoyed fishing and camping, starting with a tent and eventually getting a camper for the back of the pickup. Earl passed away in 2004, after 52 years of marriage. After being on the farm for 4 years without him she bought a house in Humboldt, Iowa, in 2008. She lived there and enjoyed visiting her older sister and her niece who was older than her and doing things with high school friends.

In 2005 she gave her life to Christ and became very involved in her church. She eventually moved to Ames, Iowa to Northridge Village Independent Living in December of 2019. She became known as the Wii bowling champion, played Rummikub every day with her friends, and enjoyed chocolate cappuccinos every afternoon. She also enjoyed going to Reimen Gardens to see the flowers and visit the butterfly conservatory, which she loved.

To know Eleanor was to love her. She was a hard working, self sacrificing, loving woman and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Eleanor leaves behind her daughters Linda (Peter) Berger and Sharon (Steven) Froning, 8 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Earl Barton, and grandson Patriot Berger.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11:30 AM at Mason Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt. Burial will follow at the Lu Verne Cemetery. Her family will greet friends at a visitation at the funeral home from 10 AM until service time on Saturday.