Leah Ann Konken

Leah Ann Konken, age 75, of Brownsdale, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at The Cedars of Austin. Leah was born October 23, 1949, the daughter of Kermett and Mary (Etherton) Mahlman in Owatonna, Minnesota. She graduated from Owatonna High School in 1968. Leah was united in marriage to Donald Konken on June 10, 1973, in Owatonna. The couple relocated to Austin and ran an in-home daycare for 18 years. Throughout their life together, they shared the joy of hosting five exchange students, Irene from Spain, Ahmet from Turkey, Alicon from Turkey, Miguel from Argentina, and Trish from Wisconsin. Leah was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan and sang in many Christmas cantatas. She was an active member of her community and dedicated much of her time to the Ladies Aid at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brownsdale and the VFW Auxiliary of Austin. Her true pride and joy, however, came from her family, who were the center of her world and brought her the greatest happiness. We will love and miss her forever.

Survivors include her husband, Donald of Brownsdale, Minnesota; brother, Terry (Trish Boeke) Mahlman; brother and sister-in-law Darrel and Eleanore Gordon; nieces, Bess Mahlman and Lisa (Dan) Landherr; and nephew, Paul (Amanda) Gordon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kermett and Mary Mahlman; daughter, Elizabeth Rose at birth; daughter, Marianne Margaret at age 11 ½ in a bicycle accident.

A funeral service for Leah will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brownsdale, Minnesota. The visitation will take place from 9:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brownsdale. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin.