Laurel Sahlie

Laurel Ilene Leighton Sahlie, 90, of Grand Island, formerly of Arcadia, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Island.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Arcadia, with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hale officiating. Burial will be in the Arcadia Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island, with family to receive friends one hour prior to service time Saturday at the church.

Mrs. Sahlie was born May 8, 1922, in Taylor County, Iowa, to Roy Ellis and Grace Evangeline (Sherbeck) Leighton.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Bill Sahlie.

Survivors of the immediate family include one son and daughter in law, Jim and Rose Sahlie of Woodville, Texas; three daughters and sons-in-law, Deb and Leonard Cernik of Lincoln, Beckie and Steve Stec of Grand Island, Teresa and Fred Nelson of Oxford, Mich.; eight grandchildren, 14 stepgrandchildren, two great-granddaughters.

She received her education at Silver Lake Public Country High School in Bedford, Iowa, graduating with the class of 1939. She did housework for several years before attending nurses training at Shenandoah, Iowa, for two years. She worked as a nurse at Loup City for two years before returning home to take care of her mother. She later worked at Sterling, Colo., for a brief time, then Ballard Hospital in Broken Bow until she was united in marriage to Bill Sahlie on Dec. 22, 1951, at Ord. Four children were born to this union, James Dewey, Debra Denise, Rebecca Jane and Teresa Ilene. The couple made their home in Arcadia, where they resided their entire married life. Mr. Sahlie was a beekeeper and they made their living raising bees and producing honey for Sue Bee. They traveled with the bees for many years from Arcadia to Texas. The couple raised a large garden where she enjoyed canning and freezing the produce to enjoy throughout the year and tending all of her flowers and fruit trees.

Mr. Sahlie preceded her in death Dec. 10, 2001. In September of 2002, she moved to Grand Island and made her home at Riverside Lodge.

The couple joined the Methodist Church in Arcadia shortly after their marriage. She was active in the Women's Church circles, especially the bake sales, when asked to support the Church bake sale she was glade to be able to help and enjoyed doing so. She was a member of an Extension Club for many years, member of Arcadia Gardening Club and Thursday Morning Women's Coffee Group.

Laurel enjoyed being a homemaker, was a fabulous cook and loved to bake. She made a crocheted blanket for each of her grandchildren which was a wonderful keepsake for them. She enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, for they were the light of her life.

Memorials are suggested to Arcadia United Methodist Church, Arcadia Fire & Rescue and the Arcadia Public School.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, brothers Paul and Ellsworth Leighton and sister, Ruth Hamilton.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

You may sign the online guestbook at theindependent.com.