Leona L Kreft

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N. Riverfront Drive
Mankato, Minnesota 56001

Leona Kreft, age 90, of Mankato died Sunday, June 10, 2012 at the Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 30, 2012 at St. Johns Ev. Lutheran Church, Vesta, Minnesota with Rev. Dale W. Schliewe officiating. Burial will be in Vesta City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Friday, June 29 at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Saturday.

Leona was born February 8, 1922 to William and Ida (Truebenbach) Rosin in Lyra Township, Blue Earth County. Leona attended country school through the 8th grade, when she took a larger role in running the family farm and household. She worked manufacturing jobs in Mankato during her twenties, living with her sister in a small apartment. She was united in marriage to Gilbert Kreft on December 4, 1954 at St Johns Lutheran Church in Good Thunder. They farmed near Good Thunder until 1965 and then near Vesta until they retired in 1985. She moved back to Mankato after Gilbert died in 1996.

Leona was a hard working farm wife whose first priority was always her family. She enjoyed playing cards, dancing, old tyme music, baking, cooking, canning, and gardening. She was a compassionate listener who dearly loved spending time with friends. A lifelong Christian, she was a member of St. Johns Ev. Lutheran Church, Vesta.

Leona is survived by four children, Dale Kreft of St. Paul, Keith (Corinne) Kreft of St. Peter, Eldora "Eldie" (Randy) Dertinger of Alexandria, and Arlo (Claudia) Kreft of Hillsboro, OR; six grandchildren, Lisa Dertinger, Jeffrey Dertinger, Laura Ballman, Noah Kreft, Isaac Kreft, and Austin Kreft; nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gilbert; infant son, Dean; brother, Ernest; sister, Eldora.