Leona Nelsen

Funeral Service TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2006, 2:30 PM ELK HORN LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELK HORN, IOWA

Officiating REVEREND KEITH ANDREW MENTER

Congregational Hymns ROCK OF AGES? WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS? ARLENE LEISTAD, ORGANIST

Casket Bearers KARL CHRISTENSEN STEVE CHRISTENSEN JUDY KNUDSEN SHIRLEY ANDERSEN WAYNE ANDERSEN BRUCE ANDERSEN

Interment ELK HORN LUTHERAN CEMETERY, ELK HORN, IOWA

Leona Laurina, daughter of Jens and Anna (Petersen) Andersen, was born September 19, 1912, on the family farm north of Kimballton, Iowa. She attended Spring Valley country school through the eighth grade. Leona worked as a housekeeper in the Kimballton and Audubon area, then in Chicago for a short time. On December 21, 1941, Leona was united in marriage with Richard Nelsen at Ebeneezer Church, west of Audubon. One daughter, Anna Mae, was born to this union. The couple lived in Elk Horn and then shortly after moved to Richards homeplace north of town, where they resided until the mid-1980s. Leona was a busy farm-wife and kept a large vegetable and flower garden, as well as tending many chickens. She enjoyed going fishing with Richard at the Prairie Rose Lake west of Elk Horn. When they retired and moved into Elk Horn, Leona still kept a garden and many houseplants. Leona was a member of Elk Horn Lutheran Church. After a short illness, Leona died at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, on Sunday, February 26, 2006, at the age of 93 years, five months and seven days. Preceding Leona in death are her parents; daughter Anna Mae Atkinson in 1992; son-in-law Robert Atkinson; brother Harvey Andersen and sisters Christina Christensen and Ruby Knudsen. She is survived by her husband Richard Nelsen of Elk Horn; grandsons: Rob Atkinson and wife Cris of North Liberty; Tim Atkinson of Parnell; and Rodney Atkinson of Portland, OR; six great-grandchildren: Austin, Shelby, Ethan, Cody, Brittney and Lucas; brother Lester Andersen of Denison; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.