Leona Marjorie (Rossell) STEVENS

STEVENS, ROSSELL, SMITH, WEBNER, BEAM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/27/2007 at 09:58:15

BELMOND - Leona M. Stevens, age 88, a longtime resident and former teacher in the Goodell and Belmond school systems, died Thursday (Oct. 25, 2007) at the Belmond Health Care Center in Belmond. Funeral services for Leona Stevens will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Belmond United Methodist Church. The Rev. Michael Druhl will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at church today. Memorials may be given in Leona's name directed to her son, Tom Stevens, 8520 Rolling Sunset Drive, Winona, MN 55985.

Leona Marjorie Rossell, the daughter of Sidney and Essie (Smith) Rossell, was born Dec. 6, 1918, on her grandparents' farm in rural Lewis, Iowa. She received her primary education and graduated from high school through the Lewis Community Schools.
Leona was united in marriage to Lloyd Glen Stevens on Oct. 19, 1939, at Pappillion, Neb. Leona continued her post secondary education through course work at Mason City Junior College and at Iowa State Teacher's College and eventually completed her bachelor's degree in education at Drake University. Leona and Lloyd moved to Belmond in 1953. Lloyd operated the Western Auto Store in town, worked as a carpenter and sold feed and corn, while Leona continued her life long ambition and devotion to teaching young people. She was employed as a teacher in the Goodell and Belmond Community Schools. During the later years of her career in Belmond, Leona even had the unique opportunity to teach under the leadership of her son, Tom, who was a principal in the Belmond School District for a number of years. It's been stated that, "Leona was an educator through and through." She was always well organized and planning her lessons well in advance of their need. Her son, Tom, reflected that she was still planning lessons and learning programs for the future even though she was retired from teaching. She was very nurturing and absolutely loved her years spent teaching young people. Leona retired from her calling and profession as a teacher in 1981, however, she continued as a substitute for a number of years. Leona was a "salt of the Earth" wife, mother, and grandmother, teacher and friend to many. She relished times spent with her family. In earlier years, Leona and Lloyd enjoyed going on excursions to square dance and on various fishing trips with family and friends. She was always up for a game of cribbage or spending time with other couples at card parties. Leona had done some oil paintings of various scenic venues, enjoyed crocheting, and was an avid reader. Leona had been a long time member of Belmond United Methodist Church, a past member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Iowa State Education and the National Education Associations.

She had been a resident of the Belmond Health Care Center since December 1999. Leona's life will be fondly remembered by her son, Tom Stevens, and his wife, Dee, most recently of Winona, Minn.; her son-in-law, Dennis Webner and his wife, Marilyn, of Sergeant Bluff; four grandchildren, Chris Webner and wife, Laurie, and their children, Luke, Matthew, and Grace of Panora, Steve Webner and his wife, Stacy, and their children, Colton and Cade, Jessica and her husband, Rick Beam, and their children, Abbey and Logan of Monticello, and Nate Stevens of Cedar Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd, on March 14, 1995, her daughter, Linda Webner, at age 30; an infant sister and infant brother, Gerald; and two brothers Eldred and Austin. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette
10/26/2007