1926
Leland
2012
Leland Abben
May 5, 1926 — June 2, 2012
Memorial Services for Leland M. "Lee" Abben will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Reverend Al Stoa will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran's Organizations. Friends may visit from 5-7 on Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before services at the church.
Leland died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday morning, June 2, 2012 at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea. He was 86. Leland Maynard Abben was born on May 5, 1926, in Dumont, Iowa, the son of Ben and Bena (Gersema) Abben. Lee graduated from high school in Northwood, Iowa in 1943. Lee worked on the family farm for a short time before proudly serving our country in the U.S. Army during WWII. He served from November of 1944 until his honorable discharge in November of 1946. He had served in Italy, helped liberate the Dachau Camp, had opportunity to escort General Mark Clark, and when the war was over he was an MP in the U.S. Army. He was united in marriage to Betty J. Peterson on August 26, 1950. To this union five children were born, Barbara, Lori, Christine, Garry and Jane, whom he loved so much. Lee had worked for Wilson &Co/Farmstead/Farmland for 37 years before retiring in 1989. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and the American Legion. Lee loved his family and enjoyed all things centered around them. He looked forward to Saturday mornings when his kids and grandkids would gather for good conversation and coffee. Holidays with everyone together were very special times for Lee. He enjoyed his friends at Health Reach where he faithfully went everyday to visit and exercise. Lee enjoyed camping, fishing, campfires, watching sports and talking politics. Lee is survived by his wife Betty J. Abben of Albert Lea; five children: Barbara (Wayne) Morfitt, Lori (Mike)Lobb, Christine (Duane) Schmidt, Garry Abben and Jane (Wayne "Mick") Beighley of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Melanie (Todd) Tarnow, Matt (Dawn) Morfitt, Marc Morfitt and fiancé Tabitha Miller, Jon Beighley, Mike (Nikki)Schmidt, Sarah(Brad) Sistek, Jeremy Schmidt, Brooke (Anders) Stoll, Emily Abben, Ethan Abben, and Meghan Beighley; Great grandchildren:Brandon Tarnow, Brooklyn Morfitt, Kayla and Haylee Schmidt, Jackson Sistek, Cole and Madie Stoll and 3 more on the way; brothers: Duane (Mary) Abben of Little Cedar, IA, Buddy (Dixie) Abben of Little Cedar, IA, sisters: Mildred Rhodes of Cedar Rapids, IA, Dorothy (Claire) Caldwell of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law : Carol Gilderhus and Kathy and Gene Pacovsky; Many special nieces, nephews, cousins as well as special friends, Pat and Harold Hanson, Arvella and Louis Henderson and Perry Loge also survive. Those waiting to meet him in heaven include: his parents Ben and Bena, mother-in-law and father-in-law Laura and George Peterson, brothers Kenny and Harold; sisters Helen and Elda; brothers-in-law
and sister-in-law George and Murdy Peterson, Barb Armstrong, David Peterson, Thomas Peterson, Larry Gilderhus and granddaughter Rachel (Abben) Beighley.
Our gentle, kind, husband and dad is now surrounded by the arms of Jesus-Blessed be his lasting memory.
In lieu of flowers memorial suggested to Mayo Clinic Health System-Albert Lea Hospice.
Leland died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday morning, June 2, 2012 at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea. He was 86. Leland Maynard Abben was born on May 5, 1926, in Dumont, Iowa, the son of Ben and Bena (Gersema) Abben. Lee graduated from high school in Northwood, Iowa in 1943. Lee worked on the family farm for a short time before proudly serving our country in the U.S. Army during WWII. He served from November of 1944 until his honorable discharge in November of 1946. He had served in Italy, helped liberate the Dachau Camp, had opportunity to escort General Mark Clark, and when the war was over he was an MP in the U.S. Army. He was united in marriage to Betty J. Peterson on August 26, 1950. To this union five children were born, Barbara, Lori, Christine, Garry and Jane, whom he loved so much. Lee had worked for Wilson &Co/Farmstead/Farmland for 37 years before retiring in 1989. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and the American Legion. Lee loved his family and enjoyed all things centered around them. He looked forward to Saturday mornings when his kids and grandkids would gather for good conversation and coffee. Holidays with everyone together were very special times for Lee. He enjoyed his friends at Health Reach where he faithfully went everyday to visit and exercise. Lee enjoyed camping, fishing, campfires, watching sports and talking politics. Lee is survived by his wife Betty J. Abben of Albert Lea; five children: Barbara (Wayne) Morfitt, Lori (Mike)Lobb, Christine (Duane) Schmidt, Garry Abben and Jane (Wayne "Mick") Beighley of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Melanie (Todd) Tarnow, Matt (Dawn) Morfitt, Marc Morfitt and fiancé Tabitha Miller, Jon Beighley, Mike (Nikki)Schmidt, Sarah(Brad) Sistek, Jeremy Schmidt, Brooke (Anders) Stoll, Emily Abben, Ethan Abben, and Meghan Beighley; Great grandchildren:Brandon Tarnow, Brooklyn Morfitt, Kayla and Haylee Schmidt, Jackson Sistek, Cole and Madie Stoll and 3 more on the way; brothers: Duane (Mary) Abben of Little Cedar, IA, Buddy (Dixie) Abben of Little Cedar, IA, sisters: Mildred Rhodes of Cedar Rapids, IA, Dorothy (Claire) Caldwell of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law : Carol Gilderhus and Kathy and Gene Pacovsky; Many special nieces, nephews, cousins as well as special friends, Pat and Harold Hanson, Arvella and Louis Henderson and Perry Loge also survive. Those waiting to meet him in heaven include: his parents Ben and Bena, mother-in-law and father-in-law Laura and George Peterson, brothers Kenny and Harold; sisters Helen and Elda; brothers-in-law
and sister-in-law George and Murdy Peterson, Barb Armstrong, David Peterson, Thomas Peterson, Larry Gilderhus and granddaughter Rachel (Abben) Beighley.
Our gentle, kind, husband and dad is now surrounded by the arms of Jesus-Blessed be his lasting memory.
In lieu of flowers memorial suggested to Mayo Clinic Health System-Albert Lea Hospice.
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