1914
Leona
2014
Leona Rystrom
May 27, 1914 — September 23, 2014
Leona Edith Rystrom, 100, passed away peacefully at St. John's Community Home on September 23, 2014. Her funeral service will be held Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Salem Lutheran Church, Albert Lea at 2:00 PM. Pastor Mark Niethammer will officiate. There will be a visitation at Bonnerup Funeral Service on Friday, September 26, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and one hour prior to the service at the church,
Leona was born on May 27, 1914 to Charles and Minnie (Funk) Nordin at North Branch, Minnesota. Leona was one of seven sisters: Olive, Pearl, Doris, Verna, LuVerne, Joyce, and one brother, Carl. She married Harry Rystrom on December 20, 1931. They farmed in North Branch until 1948 when a tornado destroyed that farm. The moved to Excelsior, Minnesota for one year, where Harry managed a large dairy farm and Leona cooked for the hired men and kept a huge 8-bedroom house on Lake Minnetonka. Their next move was to Carlton, Minnesota where Leona worked for the Diamond Match Company until her retirement. After retirement they bought a home in Stacy, Minnesota where many of their relatives were located. Their last move was to Albert Lea where daughter, Pauline and her husband Hugh lived. They moved into Thornecrest Retirement Center where Leona's husband passed away in 1994. She continued living in her apartment at Thornecrest for the next 15 years. She met wonderful friends at Thornecrest, had a garden and provided tomatoes and flowers to the guests all summer long. When winter came she made quilts and worked on crafts, mended clothing for anyone who needed her help, took care of the indoor plants, and with a freezer full of baked goods, she would put on her 30-cup pot and invite everyone at Thornecrest for coffee. She spent some of the happiest days of her life at Thornecrest. She especially loved Lynn and Lindy who kept her busy making decorations and crafty things for holidays. She won many purple ribbons for her crafts at the Freeborn County Fair. She even sang with the Thornecrest Singers.
Where ever mom and dad lived, a church was the first thing they looked for in the community. They often were janitors of the church where they lived and would plant the flowers and keep the grounds beautiful. They loved Salem Lutheran Church where mom was active in the Sew 'N Tell and Circle.
Leona has three daughters, Pauline (Hugh) Hall of Albert Lea, MN, Shirley Klosner of International Falls, MN, and Karen (Darryl) Prince of Maple Valley, WA. Grandchildren are: Scott (Lena) Klosner, Roland (Bonnie) Prince, Royle (Sherri) Prince, Lance (Penny) Hall, Troy Hall, Chris (Fatemeh) Hall, Julie (Gary) Reed, Kelly Johnsrud, Michelle (Chris) Schotz and Cheryl (Jason) Bever. Great-grandchildren are: Jonathan and Brooke Klosner, Stephanie, Katja, Nadia, Erin and Hayley Reed, Nathan (Nicole) Hall, Cory (Jamie) Hall, Justin (Ashley) Hall and Elizabeth Anne Hall, Beau and Jacob Johnsrud and Anniseh and Ilia Hall. Also, great-great grandchildren are: Hayden, Camryn, Gavin, Helen, Evelyn, Gwendolyn and Chayce Hall and Blake Bever. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a daughter, Elaine, and granddaughters Paula Prince and Amy Jo Hall.
Just recently when Leona's health began to decline, she was moved to St. John's Community Home. Leona's family will always be grateful to the staff at St. John's for the comfort and love they offered her during her last days.
Leona was born on May 27, 1914 to Charles and Minnie (Funk) Nordin at North Branch, Minnesota. Leona was one of seven sisters: Olive, Pearl, Doris, Verna, LuVerne, Joyce, and one brother, Carl. She married Harry Rystrom on December 20, 1931. They farmed in North Branch until 1948 when a tornado destroyed that farm. The moved to Excelsior, Minnesota for one year, where Harry managed a large dairy farm and Leona cooked for the hired men and kept a huge 8-bedroom house on Lake Minnetonka. Their next move was to Carlton, Minnesota where Leona worked for the Diamond Match Company until her retirement. After retirement they bought a home in Stacy, Minnesota where many of their relatives were located. Their last move was to Albert Lea where daughter, Pauline and her husband Hugh lived. They moved into Thornecrest Retirement Center where Leona's husband passed away in 1994. She continued living in her apartment at Thornecrest for the next 15 years. She met wonderful friends at Thornecrest, had a garden and provided tomatoes and flowers to the guests all summer long. When winter came she made quilts and worked on crafts, mended clothing for anyone who needed her help, took care of the indoor plants, and with a freezer full of baked goods, she would put on her 30-cup pot and invite everyone at Thornecrest for coffee. She spent some of the happiest days of her life at Thornecrest. She especially loved Lynn and Lindy who kept her busy making decorations and crafty things for holidays. She won many purple ribbons for her crafts at the Freeborn County Fair. She even sang with the Thornecrest Singers.
Where ever mom and dad lived, a church was the first thing they looked for in the community. They often were janitors of the church where they lived and would plant the flowers and keep the grounds beautiful. They loved Salem Lutheran Church where mom was active in the Sew 'N Tell and Circle.
Leona has three daughters, Pauline (Hugh) Hall of Albert Lea, MN, Shirley Klosner of International Falls, MN, and Karen (Darryl) Prince of Maple Valley, WA. Grandchildren are: Scott (Lena) Klosner, Roland (Bonnie) Prince, Royle (Sherri) Prince, Lance (Penny) Hall, Troy Hall, Chris (Fatemeh) Hall, Julie (Gary) Reed, Kelly Johnsrud, Michelle (Chris) Schotz and Cheryl (Jason) Bever. Great-grandchildren are: Jonathan and Brooke Klosner, Stephanie, Katja, Nadia, Erin and Hayley Reed, Nathan (Nicole) Hall, Cory (Jamie) Hall, Justin (Ashley) Hall and Elizabeth Anne Hall, Beau and Jacob Johnsrud and Anniseh and Ilia Hall. Also, great-great grandchildren are: Hayden, Camryn, Gavin, Helen, Evelyn, Gwendolyn and Chayce Hall and Blake Bever. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a daughter, Elaine, and granddaughters Paula Prince and Amy Jo Hall.
Just recently when Leona's health began to decline, she was moved to St. John's Community Home. Leona's family will always be grateful to the staff at St. John's for the comfort and love they offered her during her last days.
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