Leona Via, 82, died on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at St. Lukes Hospital in Duluth, MN.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN with Rev. Robert Paulson officiating. Burial will be 1:00 PM, Monday, December 15, 2008, in Mountain View Cemetery, Vinton, VA.

Visitation will be 5-8 Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at Johnson Funeral Service, Oklee, MN. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Thursday.

Leona Kathryen Lillo was born on August 23, 1926 on the family farm in Equality Township, Red Lake County, MN, to Herman and Elsie (Wichterman) Lillo. She was baptized and confirmed in the Clearwater Lutheran Church in rural Oklee. She attended grade school and high school in Grand Rapids, MN. She then moved to California with her parents. After returning to Minnesota, she worked at the hospital in Grand Rapids until 1945, which time she went to Vinton, VA and was united in marriage to Frank Matthew Via on July 25, 1945. They lived on farms in Roanoke City and Troutville, VA. Her husband died September 18, 1957 and in December of 1957 she moved with her three children to Duluth, MN, where she worked at St. Marys Hospital for a while. She moved to Oklee, MN in August of 1964, and lived there until 1971, when she moved to Manassas, VA, and worked in the hospital and for doctors until 1980. She returned to Oklee, MN again and worked at Hansons Boarding Home in Thief River Falls until she retired. She moved into assisted living in Erskine, MN after being diagnosed with Alzheimers then moved to a facility in Buffalo, MN to be closer to her daughter. Due to job transfers, they relocated to Duluth in September 2007, and she lived in Heritage Haven Assisted Living until her death.

She went back to high school, with her son Dennis, and graduated from Oklee High School in 1969. Leona was a foster parent for many children. She also had a safe house. She was active with the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, American Legion Auxillary, Clearwater Heritage Assc., and the Oklee Homemakers Club. She loved to quilt, dance, play cards, take road trips, and visit with friends and family. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee and active with the Ladies Aid.

She is survived by three children: Gary (Carol) Via, Manassas, VA, Dennis (Corinne) Via, Front Royal, VA, Katherine (Steve) Pederson, Hermantown, MN, 7 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren, 2 brothers, Milo (Shirley) Lillo, Duluth, MN, Renaldo (Arlene) Lillo, Gillette, WI, 1 sister, Ardith (Harold) Kessler, Oklee, MN, 2 sisters in law, Evelyn Lillo, Roseau, MN, Bonnie Lillo, Grand Rapids, MN. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frank, 2 sons, Larry and Malcolm Via, 3 half brothers, Maurice Lillo, Obert Lillo, Alvin Fore, 4 brothers, Eldore Lillo, Norman Lillo, Leonil Lillo, Harold Lillo, 1 infant sister, and a special companion and friend of many years Adolph Hofstad.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Clearwater Heritage Association.

ORGANIST: Marian Marquis
SPECIAL MUSIC: Steve Vigstol & Donna Fossum
SELECTIONS: The Old Rugged Cross, The Three Bells
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: What A Friend We Have In Jesus, The Borning Cry, On Eagles Wings
PALLBEARERS: Gene Lillo, Arnold Lillo, Tim Lillo, Obert Lillo Jr, Neil Lillo, Rayno Lillo