Eileen Laurice (Whalen) Briggs passed away peacefully at her home on September 25, 2026, ready to be reunited with her beloved husband, George, and their sons, Tim and Bill.

Eileen was born on November 26, 1941, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Lawrence and Dorothy (Diehl) Whalen. As a young girl, she loved visiting her grandparents at the hardware store they owned and lived above at the corner of Thomas and Dale Street. She cherished the time spent there with her aunts and uncles, Ray and Lorraine, and Louie and Catherine. It was also during those early years that Eileen began babysitting children for family and neighbors, beginning what would become a lifelong love of caring for children.

Eileen met the love of her life, George Briggs, at the Prom Ballroom. It wasn’t long before the two were married on August 18, 1958, at Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Together, Eileen and George welcomed four boys, George, Bill, Tim, and Mike, and built a life centered around family. They made their home on Loeb Street in St. Paul before moving to the Grantsburg area in 1978 and later to Webster in 1985.

Eileen always spoke fondly of the years her family spent summers camping in a tent, fishing, and enjoying the company of family and friends on Little Wood Lake. During the winter months, she rarely missed a chance to be rink-side supporting George and the boys. Stories from those years found their way into conversations often. Eileen loved reminiscing, especially while looking through her many, many photographs. She was immensely proud of her family and treasured the memories they made together.

Eileen was happiest with a house full of family and friends. She loved holidays, especially Halloween and Christmas, but never needed a special occasion to welcome someone into her home. A quick visit could easily turn into a cup of coffee, cookies, and a long conversation.

She enjoyed trips to the casino, gardening, reading, and a good cowboy show, especially anything featuring John Wayne. She was also a talented Russian embroidery artist, earning awards for her beautiful work.

Perhaps one of the greatest reflections of Eileen’s heart was the more than 50 years she spent caring for children. From her first daycare children on Loeb Street in the 1960s to the last ones she cared for in 2018, she opened her home and her heart to generations of children and their families. They were never simply children she babysat; they became part of her life, and she treasured them. Anyone stopping by for a visit was sure to be offered a cup of coffee and cookies and likely shown the newest photographs lining the walls of her dining room, proudly displaying so many of the children and families she loved over the years.

Eileen was caring, kind, calm, and remarkably strong. To know Eileen was to know what it felt like to be loved. Even in her final days, she spoke with intention, listened closely, and made those around her feel seen and cared for. Her life was marked by a quiet devotion to the people she loved, and she will be deeply missed by the family and many others whose lives were made better simply by being part of hers.

Eileen is survived by her sons, George (Laurie) Briggs and Mike Briggs; daughter-in-law, Julie Pfluger; brothers, Larry Whalen and Dan (Gail) Whalen; brothers-in-law, Jim Briggs and Kurt (Ann) Godden; grandchildren, Randy (Brooke) Briggs, Craig (Ashley) Briggs, Allison (Dylan) Longhenry, and Lydia (Damien Rasmussen) Pfluger; and great-grandchildren, Lyman and Hannah Briggs, Lane Longhenry, and Braylee Briggs and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Briggs; sons, Tim Briggs and Bill Briggs; daughter-in-law, Michele Briggs; parents, Lawrence and Dorothy Whalen; sisters, Kathleen Rethamel and Pat Muellner; sisters-in-law, Ruth Briggs and Sharon Van Hees; and brothers-in-law Fred Rethamel and Greg Muellner.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 9th at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster with visitation beginning at 10:00 am and service to follow at 12:00 pm. Interment will follow the service at Oak Grove Cemetery in Webster.

Pallbearers will be Randy Briggs, Craig Briggs, Dylan Longhenry, Jeremy Briggs, Kris Godden, Lyman Briggs, and Lane Longhenry.