Memorial services for Leona Engdahl, 85, of Aurelia, will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 17, 2011, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee with Pastor Jim Steen officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with the family present, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia.  A memorial fund has been established.

Leona Maude Furgason was born on May 22, 1926, the daughter of Byron and Alice (Anderson) Furgason near Quimby, IA. She attended school in Quimby and graduated from Wilson High School in Cherokee in 1945. Leona worked as a clerk at Royer’s Jewelry in Cherokee prior to her marriage. On January 5, 1950 Leona was united in marriage to Albert Raymond Engdahl at the Bethlehem Lutheran in Cherokee. She was a mother, farmer’s wife, homemaker, and a Health Aide. Leona was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Women of the ELCA, and enjoyed reading, golfing, and baking.

Leona died Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee.

Preceding Leona in death were her parents, two infants, Raymond Allen and Lynn Marie, one brother, Clinton and his wife Helen Furgason, and her three brothers-in-law Clifford Ferrin, Edwin Engdahl, and Harry Lindgren.

Survivors include her husband Albert Engdahl of Aurelia, two daughters; Joy and her husband Haridas Shah of Burlington, IA, and Jody and her husband Michael Pagel of Cedar Rapids, IA, and two grandchildren; Ketan Shah and Priya Shah both of Burlington. Also surviving are one sister, Margaret Ferrin of Omaha, NE, one brother-in-law, Kenneth and his wife Lois Jean Engdahl, and two sisters-in-law; Hetty Engdahl and Phyllis Lindgren, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.