Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a time of Prayer and Remembrance at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday, April 11th at the Salem Bible Church in Munich ND one hour prior to the 10:30 a.m. funeral service. Burial will be in East Salem Cemetery, rural Munich at a later date.
Leona Fay was born on August 30, 1937 in Clyde ND, the daughter of Hank and Elizabeth (Fast) Janzen. She grew up in the Munich area and attended the Moscow #3 Country School and her high school years were at the Bethany Bible Academy in Munich.
Leona was united in marriage to Arnold Heppner on August 21, 1956 at the Salem Mennonite Church in Munich. They lived in Dunseith ND for 2 years and Leona was a devoted wife and homemaker. They then moved to the Heppner family farm for a few years, then on to Clyde for five years. In 1968, they moved back to the Heppner farm and lived, worked and raised their 5 children there through the years. Leona was the typical farm wife, working along side her husband in the farming and the dairy operation and being a loving and nurturing mother and grandmother.
When Leona’s responsibilities as a farmer’s wife lessened, and the children were grown, she co-owned and operated H & H Quilting in Hampden from 1996 through 2000.
Leona was a very talented seamstress, crafter and made numerous quilts for family and friends and many were hand quilted. She also did embroidery of dish towels and quilt blocks. Leona always made sure she cooked or baked family favorites for all the different celebrations and events including cinnamon twists, verenike, and twieback.
Leona loved her Lord and Savior, treasured every member of her family and felt her life had been incredibly enriched by the close friendships she had with many of the wonderful people in the Hampden area.
Leona’s beloved family include her husband Arnold; kids Kevin (Joan) Heppner, Munich, Jeff Heppner, New Raymer CO, Denise (Dan) Overmoe, Mayville ND, Brad (Kari) Heppner, Crookston MN and Connie Heppner, Devils Lake; grandchildren Chelsea (Zach) Traverse, Valley City ND, Rachel (Christopher) Strand, Hatton ND, Aimee (Michael) Brown, Devils Lake, Keely (Vincent) Olson, Bismarck ND, Brenna (Andrew) Berge, Kindred ND, Hailey Heppner, New Raymer CO, Kayla Overmoe, Mandan ND, Andrew (Noelle) Overmoe, Moorhead MN, Karissa (Scott) Cole, West Fargo ND, Anthony (Holly) Overmoe, Breckenridge MN, Adam (Erin) Overmoe, Portland ND, Alex Overmoe, St. Paul MN; Seth Heppner, Chicago IL, Brady Heppner, Roanoke VA, Brock Heppner, Brookings SD and Katrina Heppner, Devils Lake; great grandchildren Eva, Jacob, Jorgen, and Jensen Strand; Madilynn and baby expected in July Brown; Peter, Samson, Elijah and Moses Olson; Enoch and baby expected in April Berge; Naomi and baby expected in August Overmoe; Olivia and Joshua Cole; and Adlee and baby expected in November Overmoe; sister Betty (David) Unruh of Dayton TX; sisters-in-law Gladys Thiessen, North Newton KS, June Janzen, Rapid City SD and Bernice Janzen, Littleton CO and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Alice Dick, brothers Arnold Janzen, Orlando Janzen and Orval Janzen, one Overmoe grandchild and one great grandchild Penelope Gift Olson.
Casket Bearers will be Leona’s Grandsons and Honorary Bearers will be Leona’s Granddaughters. Music will be Congregational Hymns, the Male Quartet-Kevin Heppner, David Klein, Lyndon Dick and Mike Dick, duet by Betty and David Unruh, selection by the grandchildren and organist Dawn Pankratz and pianist Joan Heppner.