Leona Brekke

Leona Brekke, age 101, of Trail, MN, passed away on Thursday, February 20th, at Essentia Health Living Center in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 27th, at Sand Valley Lutheran Church in Trail with Dawn Hanson officiating. Interment will be in Sand Valley Lutheran Cemetery, Trail, at a later date. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Thursday morning at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinfuneral.com. Leona Margaret (Reitter) Brekke was born on November 18, 1918 to George and Maggie (Hoff) Reitter at Goodrich, North Dakota. At the age of four she came with her parents to Trail (in 1923) where they operated a garage for a number of years. The Reitter family was engaged in a roller-skating business covering an area from Mahnomen, Bemidji, Kelliher and Grygla until George passed away in 1941.Her future husband, Norris Brekke, was a World War II Veteran having served in the European Theatre for almost four years. During the war years, Leona spent three years doing defense work in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hanford, Washington, and Camden, Arkansas.Leona married the love of her life, Norris Brekke, on June 15, 1946. Leona and Norris together were engaged in farming in the Trail area for 28 years. Norris also operated his own trucking business. Leona helped with the farm operation and did bookkeeping for Norris's gravel hauling business. In 1976, they sold the farm and built a house in Oklee. Norris passed away in 1977.She was employed at the Gonvick Sun Plant as a lab technician, the Leader-Record and Inter-County Community Council of Oklee. She worked for ICCC for 10 years until her retirement in 1986. She enjoyed many years of volunteering for local organizations such as the Trail V.F.W. Auxiliary and the Oklee Senior Site. She moved to Poplar Meadows Senior Living in McIntosh in October of 2014.She was a life-long member of Sand Valley Lutheran Church. She enjoyed quilting, reading, gardening, Swedish weaving, dish towel embroidery, and knitting. Leona passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Essentia Health Living Center in Fosston at the age of 101 years.Survivors include her daughter, Bonnie (Ed) Pettersen of Trail, MN; two grandsons, Jamie (Cindy) Wishard of Clearbrook, MN, and Jeremiah (Jamie) Wishard of Mentor, MN; six great grandchildren, Sam, Cooper, August, Ellie, Sadie, and Paden. Nieces and nephews also survive.She was preceded in death by her husband, Norris; her parents; and sister, Helen Flateland; and brother-in-law, Oscar Flateland.

Visitation

Thursday, February 27, 2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sand Valley Lutheran Church
100 Main St. Trail 56684, United States

Funeral Service

Thursday, February 27, 2020 11:00 AM
Sand Valley Lutheran Church
100 Main St. Trail 56684, United States