Leola Ione Strom

Leola Ione Strom, 84, of Little Falls, MN entered Eternal Life on Monday, May 23, 2016, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living Home with her loving family by her side. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 28, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Joe Herzing officiating. Burial will take place in the St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. A visitation will be held from 4-8 P.M. on Friday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN and from 10-11 A.M. on Saturday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN. A rosary will be said on Friday at 7 P.M. at the Shelley Funeral Chapel. Leola (Reinke) Strom was born on August 13, 1931, to the late Alfred and Olga (Steffen) Reinke in Swanville, MN. Leola graduated from Swanville High School in 1949. Leola married Donald Strom on July 1, 1950, in Swanville, MN. They made their first home in Little Falls and began raising their family in Little Falls and Swanville before moving to Crookston, MN in 1958. While in Crookston, Leola worked at St. Vincent’s Rest Home and their family continued to grow. The family moved back to Little Falls in 1968 where Leola worked at Munnsingwear for 14 years until they closed. She continued to work as a seamstress at Randi Lynn Bridal and Northern Cap until her retirement. Leola grew up in the Lutheran faith. After her marriage to Donald, she was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church since 1968. While raising her family of eight children, Leola had many interests. She enjoyed quilting, eventually making a quilt for each of her grandchildren. She enjoyed crocheting, traveling with her sisters, and visiting casinos. She enjoyed collecting special treasures. Over the years, she collected bells, spoons, and bears. Nothing was more special to Leola than her family. She loved organizing and planning family reunions and get-togethers. She was especially interested in studying her family genealogy. She shared the family history to all who wanted to learn. Leola lived her Christian faith and prayed daily. Her family will remember her devout religious faith, her love of jewelry, and her hand-made gifts. Leola was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Olga Reinke; her daughter and son-in-law, Gina and Hank Gruidl; sisters Adeline, Carol, Jean Aleshire, Arline Campbell, Doreen Ehrenberg and Doris Lane; and brothers Don and Heinie. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Don; children Gail (John) Pinola, of Hudson, WI; Holly (Jim) Miller, of Coon Rapids, MN; Denise (Mark) Kaiser, of Climax, MN; Gary (Rachel), of St. Cloud, MN; Angie (David) Waldvogel, of Little Falls, MN; Doug (Patti), of Centerville, MN; and Glen (Sandy), of Albert Lea, MN; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; siblings Valerie Sobania, Ramona Voltin, Beatrice Golombecki, and Alfred Reinke. The family would like to thank the staff at Diamond Willow Assisted Living Home for their kind and compassionate care.

Tributes

Leola Ione Strom

August 13, 1931 - May 23, 2016