Viola Leinen

Viola H. Leinen, 91, Fairmount, ND, went to meet our Lord, Thursday, April 21, 2011 at her home surrounded by loved ones in her rural home, under the care of Riveredge Hospice. The Funeral Mass will be 2:00 PM, Wednesday, April 27, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Fairmount, ND, with Rev. Scott Sautner as celebrant. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 26, from 5 PM to 8 PM with a 7 PM prayer service at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton and one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Fairmount.

Viola was born December 6, 1919, in Tyler, ND, the daughter of Orren and Cecelia (Bernard) Miller. She grew up attending school in her rural area to the age of twelve, when she begin attending St. John's parochial school in Wahpeton, ND. Later she attended Beauty School in Fargo, ND, before returning to her home area to wed the love of her life, Mike Leinen on August 26, 1938, at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton.

Viola lovingly raised 15 children.

Her later years found her working at St. Francis Nursing home, Breckenridge, MN, until she retired. Her hobbies included: playing cards, gardening, crossword and jigsaw puzzles. More important then anything she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was a member of St. Anthony's Altar Society.

Several of her children proudly served our great country, her sons Ron, Jim & Mike Leinen served in the Army, Clete and Paul served in the Army in Vietnam, and her daughter Susan Hogan served in the Navy.

Viola is survived by her 15 children: Jerry (Jeanne) Leinen, Rutland; Clete (Paulette) Leinen, Fairmount; Donnie Leinen, Fairmount; Carole (Wenfred) Rowin, Fairmount; Debbie (Jerry) Kent, Fairmount; Virginia (Richard) Haman, Wilton; Rita (Larry) Olson, Wahpeton; all of North Dakota; Paul (Rhonda) Leinen, Poplar; and Mark (Marilyn) Leinen, Culbertson; both of Montana; Mike Leinen, West Bend; Ron (Dyanne) Leinen, West Bend; Mary Espitia, West Bend, Jim Leinen, Tigerton; all of Wisconsin; Gail (Donald) Mayou, Kent, Washington; Susan (Norman) Hogan, West Monroe, Louisiana; her sister, Genevieve Reubish, Wahpeton; 48 GC; 94 GGC; and 10 great GGC whose company she enjoyed as often as possible.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike Leinen, her parents, Orren and Cecilia, two sisters, Rosella Neubauer and Doris Wright; a son-in-law, Dave Espitia, a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Leinen, and two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Riveredge Hospice.