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Leonora R. Johnson

1910 - 2006

 

Leonora Johnson

Leonora R. Johnson, 96, Belmond, died December 27, 2006 at the Wright Medical Center Hospice Unit in Clarion. Services were held December 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, with Rev. Troy Pflibsen officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Leonora, the daughter of Julius and Dora (Rasmussen) Olsen, was born December 26, 1910 at Blair, NE. At an early age she came to Iowa with her parents and lived in various communities in Franklin and Wright counties. In 1926 the family moved to Belmond where she finished high school, graduating with the Class of 1928. Leonora attended Waldorf College where she studied to be an educator.

After teaching for a few years, Leonora married Ervin Johnson on June 15, 1934 at Holmes. After their children were grown, Leonora returned to teaching at various schools around north Iowa.

When Ervin retired from farming in 1972 they moved to Kanawha, until his death in 1985. Leonora returned to live in Belmond, and in 1995 moved to the Belmond Community Apartments. She became a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center in 2005.

Throughout her entire life Leonora followed her belief in life-long learning. She took various adult education classes in her 80's, and several of her family members also went on to pursue careers in education. Her life was filled with special occasions and times spent with her family and friends. She will be remembered as a happy and content lady who enjoyed the simple things of life. She enjoyed writing and receiving letters from her family, and they will cherish the wisdom and strength she shared with them. She loved to read, work crossword puzzles, play games, quilt and sew.

Leonora was very active at the Trinity Lutheran where she was a long time member. She helped make hundreds of quilts with the church ladies for Lutheran World Relief, and had been active in a church circle. During her later years she enjoyed being a member of the Belmond Senior Citizens.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Dagny, Helen and Priscilla; brothers Harold and Philip; and grandsons David and Stuart.

Survivors include daughters Janelle (LeAllen) Nevermann of Mason City and Ardith (Marlin) Jenison of Urbandale; sons Ervin (Liz) Johnson of Mankato, MN and Gordon (Jeri) Johnson of Westby, WI; sister Judith Knutson of San Antonio, TX; granddaughters Terri (Don) Leick, Jody (Dave) Schrage and Kristin (Andy) Gesteland; grandsons Brian Nevermann, Mike (Carolyn) Johnson, Steve (Danette) Johnson, Craig (Lori) Johnson and Kevin (Sarah) Johnson; and great-grandchildren Jordan, Taylor, Christopher, Kaitlyn, Brianne, Turner, Jessica, Lacy, Christopher, Kate, Allison, Jacob, Ellen, Audra, Sam, Grace and Kasey.

source: Independent, Belmond, Iowa, 4 Jan 2007, page 5, column 4

 

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