Leonora R. Johnson

BELMOND - Leonora R. Johnson, 96, a resident of Belmond, died Wednesday (Dec. 27, 2006) at the Wright Medical Center Hospice Unit in Clarion, with her daughters at her side.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 Third Ave. N.E., Belmond, with the Rev. Troy Flibsen officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be given to the donor's wishes.

Leonora R. Olsen, the daughter of Julius and Dora (Rasmussen) Olsen, was born Dec. 26, 1910, at Blair, Neb.

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 the went on to attend Waldorf College, where she studied to be an educator.

After teaching for a few years following college, she was married to Ervin Johnson on June 15, 1934, at Holmes. To this union four children were born: Janelle, Ardith, Ervin and Gordon. After the children were grown, Leonora returned to her teaching career at various schools around the North Iowa area for some years.

When Ervin retired from farming in 1972, they moved to Kanawha and lived there until Ervin's death in 1985. Leonora then returned to live in Belmond and in 1995 moved to the Belmond Community Retirement Center. She had lived there until becoming a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center in April 2005.

Throughout her entire life Leonora followed her ambitions and belief in lifelong learning and education. She had even taken various adult education classes in her 80s 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 by those who knew her well as a very 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 throughout her life. She loved to read and work crossword puzzles, play games, and do handicraft such as quilting and sewing.

Leonora was very active in the church actitivities of Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, where she was a longtime member. She enjoyed making hundreds of quilts with the church ladies for Lutheran World Relief and had been active in the church circle. During her later years she enjoyed being a member of the Belmond Senior Citizens and participating in many of the activities of the retirement community.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Janelle (LeAllen) Nevermann, of Mason City, and Ardith (Marlin) Jenison, Urbandale; her sons, Ervin (Liz) Johnson, of Mankato, Minn., and Gordon (Jeri) Johnson, of Westby, Wis.; a sister, Judith Knutson, of San Antonio, Texas; granddaughters, Terri (Don) Leick, Jody (Dave) Schrage; grandsons, Brian Nevermann, Mike (Carolyn) Johnson, and Steve (Danette) Johnson; granddaughter, Kristin (Andy) Gesteland, and grandsons, Craig (Lori) Johnson and Kevin (Sarah) Johnson; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Taylor, Christopher, Kaitlyn, Brianne, Turner, Jessica, Lacy, Christopher, Kate, Allison, Jacob, Ellen, Audra, Sam, Grace and Kasey; also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Dora; husband, Ervin Johnson; three sisters, Dagny, Helen and Priscilla; two brothers, Harold and Philip; and two grandsons, David and Stuart.

Arrangements are with Andrews Funeral Home, (641) 444-4474.