Eileen Spence, age 67, of River Falls, (daughter of Eunice Luebker of Plum City) died Wednesday, January 3, 3018 at United Hospital in St Paul, Minnesota.

Funeral service will be on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church of Plum City.  Visitation will be from noon until 2 p.m. at church prior to the service.

Burial will be in Gilman Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.

Eileen Marie Spence was born April 8, 1950, to Vernon and Eunice (Swanson) Spence, in Blue Earth County located in southern Minnesota.  She was a beautiful and precocious baby.  However, during a huge, multi-day blizzard in March of 1951, when Eileen was 11 months old, she became ill and suffered convulsions which lasted for eight continuous hours, leaving her with right sided paralysis and other disabilities. 

 Despite these challenges, over the next few years she learned to compensate greatly with her left hand.  In 1962, when Eileen was twelve years old, she and her family moved to Spring Valley, Wisconsin where she spearheaded the special education program from Spring Valley to Menomonie, Wisconsin, graduating with a high school degree in 1968.  She later was employed at several retail positions over the years.

 She resided in Menomonie from 1975 until 2000, at which time she moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, where she lived until her death. 

 Over the more than 17 years she resided in River Falls, she traveled hundreds of miles on her beloved scooter around her adopted city.   She loved talking with anyone and everyone she met, greeting everyone with a smile and a laugh.  She especially enjoyed visiting her favorite restaurants around town.  She loved coloring and word puzzles and was also a wonderful embroidier, completing many lovely towels and runners.

 She remained fiercely independent her entire life; even during her battle with cancer. 

 On January 3, 2018, at 12:15 p.m., while a patient at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, she left this world to be with her Lord.   She will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends: her mother Eunice Luebker; siblings Terry Spence; Rick (Kathy) Spence; Randy (Bobbi) Spence; and Amy (Mitch) Case; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.