Who is Eldon from Winter Room and what is their importance?

Eldon is the narrator of the story, as well as one of the main characters. He lives on a farm in northern Minnesota with his family during the 1930s. Eldon and his family are Norwegian.

Eldon suffers from a serious disease that causes him to sometimes cough blood while he is a child, something that has weakened him but doesn't deter his desire to be active and work on the farm. One of Eldon's favorite things to do is go to town with his father. Eldon is described as observant and a hardworker.