Leone Leland

Visitation: Friday, May 30, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral service: Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City

Interment: will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery

Leone Leland, age 100 of Ismay, Montana passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at the Cottonwood Care Home in Miles City.

Leone Leland was born July 2, 1907, to homesteaders, George and Nellie Tasker, in Fargo, ND. She was the oldest of six siblings growing up at Trotters, ND. She attended rural schools in that area and graduated from Beach High School. After graduating, she attended "Normal School" in Dickinson and then taught in the rural schools near Trotters for several years, often having 18 children in all eight grades. Since boys often had to work home on the farms and ranches they were only a few years younger than their teacher. Leone rode a big white horse, "Dick", three miles to school, while boarding with the closest neighbors.

On November 16, 1931 Leone married Leonard Leland of Skaar, ND. They soon purchased the Haskin Ranch on the Bennie Pier Creek where they were engaged in the ranching and farming operations. Leone was involved in various capacities: raising a big garden in which she canned food used in much cooking for family, hired hands, boarding teachers and school children as well. She also was active in the Scandia Lutheran Church at Skaar, where she was involved in the Ladies Aid and Vacation Bible School every summer. She said it was into the Norwegian community and church that she soon learned how to make coffee, and lefse and lutefisk, which she and Leonard enjoyed doing together.

In 1947 Leone and Leonard sold their ranch holdings in ND and purchased a ranch in the Ismay area, which is still a family operation. At Ismay she belonged to the Ismay Community Church, where she actively participated in Bible Studies and Ladies quilting group, the Cowbells, and also First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Leone was a beloved woman wherever she lived; she had a special talent of cooking and serving others, whether her family or a large branding crew. She always had a beautiful, loving, caring spirit that endeared her to others: her family, friends, neighbors, and her care givers at Cottonwood Care Facility, where she had spent that last four years of her life. She died early Wednesday morning, May 28, 2008 at Cottonwood. Her long life of 100 years could easily be attributed to her strong faith and ability to see the best in others and every situation, as she lived each day to the fullest of her abilities.

She is survived by three children: Leonard (Joanne) of Ismay, Marilyn (Jim) May of Ismay, and Sharon (Carroll) Lorang of Great Falls. She also leaves 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, one sister, Margaret Muller of Billings, and many nieces and nephews.

Leone was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and brothers and sisters (Dorothy Leland, Ray Tasker, Jack Tasker, and infant brother, Robert) and oldest granddaughter, Julie Ellison.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 30, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery. Should friends wish, condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.