View Service Folder For Linell

Funeral services for Linell Borah age 77 of Mobridge will be 10:30 AM Saturday, July 27, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM Friday, July 26, 2019 followed by a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge.

Linell Ann (Anderson) Borah left peacefully for her eternal home on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Mobridge Regional Hospital.

She is survived by her sons Kevin(Pam)Borah, Todd (Amy) Borah of Mobridge, Keith Borah of Milbank, and daughters Sherri Thompson (special friend Kelly Kellem) of Rapid City, and Lynette (Shannon) Schlomer of Glenham. Also surviving is her sister Janae Kent of Wahkon, MN, 30 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many other family members.

Preceding her in death was her husband of 40 years, Eugene Borah "Gener" in 2000, her parents Leon and Alice Anderson of Mobridge, her brother Ronald Anderson of Isle MN, her sister and brother-in-law Duane and Ardella Quenzer and their son Jerry of Ham Lake, MN, and several in-laws.

Linell was born January 1, 1942 in Fort Snelling, MN, to Leon and Alice, while Leon was serving in WWII. She was not able to meet him until she was over a year old. She claimed that she was a "miracle baby", as her parents were told they could not have children. After the War, Leon and Alice made their home on a farm in northern Minnesota where three more children joined the family. Linell became a "mother hen" to Ardella, Ronald and Janae. Linell attended school in Wahkon, MN and in Egan, SD, ending with her high school years at Mobridge High School. The family moved to Mobridge from Egan in 1956, where they bought and ran the Rainbow Cafe, and later purchased the Silver Grill. While waitressing for her folks, she met some handsome boys from McLaughlin. Following graduation from Mobridge High, she married Eugene Borah on October 17, 1959 and they were married for 40 years.

Linell and Gene made their home in Mobridge where they raised their family and their business together. Gene worked for Leo Schirber while they welcomed their first two sons Kevin and Keith. They moved to Aberdeen from 1962-1965 to work with Gene's brother Bill, and daughter Sherri arrived. Gene was offered a position with B&R Motors in Mobridge, working with uncle Emil Jundt and Ed Reiss, and he worked there until branching out with his own business in 1980. A few years down the road they had two more children Todd and Lynette, which kept Linell busy. Besides helping out her parents in their cafe business as a waitress and baker, Linell did some babysitting and was active in the kids' lives, leading Girl Scouts, teaching Sunday School, and helping out the Trinity Lutheran church women. She was a member of the Legion Auxiliary. She also assisted her dad and Gene in remodeling their home, and then became a partner with Gene in their auto repair business, Gene's Auto Service. She took care of the books, ran the office, cleaned up after the boys, (even got greasy now and then), brought treats,and greeted hundreds of customers. Most remember her as warm and friendly "unless you owed money" according to her son Kevin, "and then she was very frank and stern with the customer". Even after Gene died suddenly in 2000, she continued to work at the shop with Kevin and Todd, their sons, and various employees up until this past year when illness slowed her down.

Linell loved spending her down time out in her yard, and always kept a variety of flowers blooming. She planted a few vegetables on occasion, but mostly liked flowers as they drew the birds she loved to watch on her back deck. She had several bird feeders outside her windows she kept stocked all year long, and all the grandkids would watch the birds with her. She also had strawberries and raspberries, which she would turn into "grandma's best jam" if she had any extra. She also loved to sew, crochet, bake, and provide meals for family gatherings. Her niece Kim McClain commented that her house was "the place to meet", filled with laughter, food and generosity. Others claimed that it was like grand central station-always filled with activity, which she loved. Her sister-in-law Joan Pusich from Milwaukee, Wis. visited every summer and enjoyed her hospitality and company. The tradition of having family reunion picnics in the backyard has remained through the years. Linell also enjoyed getting together with lifelong high school friends, having a meal or attending concerts and programs together. Her favorite place to visit was Minnesota, where all her siblings resided, and where she felt at home with trees and farms and animals. A few of her special trips include: a trip to Spain in 1974 when Gene won an award from Ford, a road trip to Idaho with the Borah family to visit their namesake Senator Frank Borah's memorials, a train trip to Washington with her sisters, and several other shorter family vacations to Wisconsin and the Black Hills.

When chatting about growing up, Sherri often asked her mom how she was able to manage 3 little ones under the age of 3 all at once and Linell said "you just did what you had to do". That was her spirit, always facing obstacles and mishaps with a positive attitude. She was always ready with words of wisdom for her kids and siblings, warm hugs for friends and family, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and Schwann's ice cream along with an open door for the grandkids and greatgrandkids, a fun yard to play in, and a great big generous heart. Her love and spirit will live on forever in the legacy she and Gene have created, and with a plethora of others whose lives she has touched.