Leona Harpestad, 1925-2016

Published 9:37 am Monday, February 29, 2016

Leona Ruth Harpestad, 90, of Wells died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at United Hospital District in Blue Earth. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells. The Rev. Mary Iverson will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Wells. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. To leave online condolences, visit www.brussheitner.com

Leona Ruth Ehrich was born April 13, 1925, to Ruben and Minnie (Hundt) Ehrich in Rome Township, Faribault County. Leona attended Country School District  No. 84, St. John’s Parochial School in Elmore Township and Frost High School from September 1939 to June 1943. After graduation, Leona worked at Blue Earth Canning Factory. She cared for her ailing mother and raised her younger siblings. Leona also helped with the farming. In 1947, she attended Minneapolis Business School night classes and worked at Hardware Mutual Insurance Company in Minneapolis.

Leona married Gordon Harpestad May 9, 1949 at the United Lutheran Church in Frost by Rev. Mosby. The couple lived in Minneapolis prior to moving to Blue Earth. The couple moved to Wells in 1953, where they lived until their deaths.

Leona worked at Del Monte Canning Co. in Wells doing seasonal factory work. She helped with Gordon’s milk routes and also had an in-home babysitting business for several years. Leona was a member of the Wells American Legion Auxiliary, Wells Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her children Joyce (Lee) Skaar of Dundas, Judy Harpestad of Wells and Dennis (Laura) Harpestad of Minnetonka; grandchildren Gjert (Amanda) Skaar of Minneapolis, Kristin Skaar of Minneapolis and Andrew Prady of Minnetonka; great-granddaughter, Eleanor Skaar; siblings Gilbert (Ramona) Ehrich of Blue Earth, Donald Ehrich of Seattle and Elaine Ehrich of Sacramento, California; sister-in-law, Ardelle Harpestad of Watertown; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Leona is preceded in death by husband, Gordon, in October 2004; parents Ruben and Minnie Ehrich; brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Bernice Ehrich; three infant children at birth; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.