Carol Leaf

Carol Marie Leaf, of Stanchfield, passed away on Monday, October 27, 2025, at Rosewood Senior Living in Cambridge. She was 86 years old.
Carol was born on November 22, 1938, in Cass Lake, Minnesota to parents Howard "Hut" and Edna "Coke" (Gehrke) Codden. Her father Hut was a railroad worker, so the family frequently moved during her childhood but eventually settled in Braham where Carol graduated from Braham High School in 1957.
On June 29, 1957, Carol was united in marriage to Dennis Richard Leaf Sr. In 1961, they settled on a farm in Maple Ridge Township where they raised their children and celebrated 66 years of marriage before Dennis' passing in July of 2023.
Carol worked a few odd jobs while raising their children, before taking a job in food service with the State of Minnesota at the Cambridge State hospital. She retired after 20 years but continued to help her son Jimmy at West Cambridge Auto Salvage with the office work and often brought in lunch and baked goods.
In her younger years, she enjoyed league bowling at Braham Lanes and was a long time member of the Braham Moose Lodge. Carol and Dennis always planted a large garden and enjoyed canning and freezing their vast harvest. Carol was a wonderful cook and baker, always making huge amounts of food and goodies around the holidays. She liked decorating for the holidays, especially having light displays outside at Christmas. She loved tending to her flowers, mowing the lawn, watching and feeding the birds, putting together puzzles, trips to the casino, all things Elvis, and last but not least, her weekly visits to get her hair styled at the beauty shop. She was so happy to have been able to travel to Arizona last winter to spend time with family and friends. Carol loved her family above all else and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister. She will be greatly missed.
Carol is preceded in death by her parents, husband Dennis Sr., daughter Denise, son Michael, sisters, Sharon Leaf, Kathy Onifer (John "Tuba" Stofflet and Bill Onifer); brothers and sisters-in-law, Rene Southerland, Donald (Verna) Leaf, and Betty (Harold) Engberg.
She is survived by her children, Lori (Jonathan) Swanson, Dennis Jr "Bosco", David, Jim, and Doug; grandchildren, Nathan (Haley), Travis, Nicholas (Katrina), Sarah, Megan (Nick), Matt, Dustin, Ashley, Megan, and Brittney (Cody); great grandchildren, Trinity, Deegan, Jaiden, Christian, Adam, Addie, Shae, Seth, Sean, Hope, Dominic, Lily Mae, Clayton, Angus, Alora, and William; sisters, Sandra (Francis) Hasser and Tammy (Jim) Calaman; brothers and sisters-in-law, Darrell Leaf, Marlys "Mickey" Southerland, LaVerne (Dennis "Butch") Golden, Dianne "DeeDee" (Mike) Lund, and Duane (Dawn) Leaf; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at the Sts. Peter& Paul Catholic Church.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm on Monday, November 3, 2025 at the Hamilton Funeral Homes and again 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
Interment will follow in the Rice Lake Cemetery.
A luncheon will follow the service at the church.