Leona M. Mertes, 92, Moorhead, MN, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, in Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead.
Leona Marie Homan was born August 21, 1911, in Yellow Medicine County, near, St. Leo, MN, to Charles and Cecelia (Schmitt) Homan. Leona was raised in St. Leo where she received her education.
Leona married Jacob N. Mertes, May 24, 1934, in St. Leo and they made their home in Mantador, ND. They moved to Baker, MN, in 1959, where they owned and operated Jake's Grocery. He died February 10, 1978, and Leona moved to Florida later that year, to live with her eldest son. She lived there twelve years and moved to Moorhead in 1990. She entered Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, in May of 2002.
Leona is survived by her three sons, James (Betty) Mertes, Hudson, FL, Ronald (Sandy) Mertes, Barnesville, MN, and Donald (Ann) Mertes, Moorhead; four daughters, Donna (Donald) Fugere, San Diego, CA, Patricia (Charles) Orn, Lisbon, ND, Rita (LeRoy Stolberg) Mertes, Eagan, MN, and Geraldine "Jeri" Bean, Apple Valley, MN; 20 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; three great stepgrandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; four brothers; and four sisters.
In addition to her husband, Leona was preceded in death by her parents, and a daughter, Rosemary.
Visitation: Friday, May 28, 2004; 5 - 8 PM;
Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead
Prayer Service: Friday, May 28, 2004; 7:30 PM;
Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead
Funeral Mass: Saturday, May 29, 2004; 10 AM;
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Moorhead
Burial: Saturday, May 29, 2004; 3:30 PM
Calvary Cemetery; Mantador, ND