Leland, Virginia J. (Johnson) 1927 - 2016

LELAND, USGAARD, JOHNSON, GUNDERSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/30/2016 at 12:47:01

Virginia J. Leland, age 89 of Decorah, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. David Sorenson officiating. Private Family Inurnment will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 22, one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Virgina (Johnson) Leland, a long-time resident of Decorah, was born July 10, 1927 at the farm of her maternal grandparents near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Her parents, Cora (Gunderson) Johnson and Nels M. Johnson (a native of Norway) were at the time residents of Chicago, Illinois where they had moved seeking employment in the early 1920’s.

Virginia attended the public schools in Chicago, graduating from high school in January 1946. She then enrolled in the University of Chicago, completing her general studies in December of 1947. In 1948 she went on into a graduate program in Human Development for an additional 3 years, at the same time serving as an assistant teacher in the nursery school which was part of the university’s laboratory schools.

In November of 1947 she married Earl J.Leland, a fellow student at the university, a native of Superior, Wisconsin, and a veteran of service in World War II. The Lelands continued their studies at the university until 1959 when they moved to Decorah where Earl Leland began a 27-year teaching career at Luther College. Virginia had a variety of jobs during her residence in Decorah. She had several secretarial jobs at Luther College Library in the early years and later worked for Edward Jones brokerage firm. When not employed she was a frequent volunteer for community-based organizations. She was a long-time member of the American Association of University Women and of the Luther College Woman’s Club. She was a member and officer of the Mental Health Association of Winneshiek County during the years when it was active in supporting the first rural-based mental health center in the state of Iowa. She was a volunteer for many years at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, the Aase Haugen Home and the R.S.V.P. organization. She was also active in the women’s groups for the Decorah Lutheran Church where she was a long-time member.

The mother of three children and grandmother of five, she always found her greatest satisfaction in caring for her family and contributing to the betterment of her community.

Virginia is survived by her three children, Timothy (Anne) Leland, Shorewood, MN, Cora Leland, Minneapolis, MN, Amy (David) Usgaard, Decorah; her brother, Paul Johnson, Homer, AK; five grandchildren: Elizabeth Leland, Minneapolis, MN, Robert Leland, Minneapolis, MN, Curtis Usgaard, Ames, IA, Daniel Usgaard, La Crosse, WI and Douglass Usgaard, Decorah, IA.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Earl J. Leland on April 30, 1995.

In lieu of flowers, please give memorials to Minnesota Public Radio, 480 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101, Friends of Iowa Public Television Foundation, 6535 Corporate Drive, P.O. Box 6400, Johnston, IA 50131-6400, or Decorah Parks and Recreation Office, 400 Claiborne Drive, P.O. Box 513, Decorah, IA 52101. Virginia always helped fund her grandsons’ recreation classes and would have wanted all children to have a chance to participate
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Lutheran Decorah cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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