Leota Ruth (Hansen) Dahl, age 101 years, 10 months, and 9 days, formerly of Bricelyn, died Monday, May 8, 2023, at Parkview Care Center in Wells, MN. The Memorial Service will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 11:00AM at Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells, MN with Pastor Dan Foster officiating. The service will be livestreamed on Nasinec Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 4:00-7:00PM at Nasinec Funeral Home (789 Business Park Drive, Wells, MN 56097) and will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday (10:00 to 11:00AM). Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Kiester, MN. Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells is entrusted with arrangements. Please see www.nasinecfh.com to leave online condolences. (Please go around the “Closed Road Signs” to arrive at Funeral Home)
Leota Ruth Hansen was born on the family farm June 29, 1921, the daughter of Nels and Bernice (Buchman) Hansen. She grew up on her family’s farm, southwest of Bricelyn, MN with her three siblings; Inez, Robert, and Dale. Leota was baptized by sprinkling on October 14, 1923 at the Church of the United Brethren, in Kiester, MN and again by immersion on December 18, 1923 at the First Baptist Church in Bricelyn, MN. Leota was a member of the Seely Township 4-H Club for 10 years, winning several trips to the State Fair. She won for sewing, bread baking, and baking pies. The records show that in 1940, she baked 373 loaves of bread and 42 pies, and won an award which took her to the National Cherry Pie Contest in Chicago, IL where she placed fifth in the nation in February of 1941. During her 4-H years, Leota was named “The Healthiest Girl” in Faribault County but declined to take the State Fair Trip so that she and her sister, Inez, could go together with their joint clothing demonstration. Leota attended one room country school district #86 (Jelle School) through 6th grade. She graduated as an honor student at the age of 16 in 1938 from Bricelyn High School where she was salutatorian of her class. After graduation from high school, she worked at Bricelyn Telephone Company for the Wilcox family, Balzer’s Grocery, and the Unique Theatre. During WWII, Leota lived in San Diego, CA and worked as a clerk-typist in the offices of Consolidated Aircraft. Leota was united in marriage to Gerald William Dahl on March 5, 1944 on her parent’s farm, to this union four daughters were born. After marrying Gerald, she raised her four daughters and sewed draperies for Westerlund’s and Renkley’s Furniture and the Décor Den, in Kiester for over 20 years. Leota also designed and sewed custom wedding and bridesmaid dresses, including making her three oldest daughters’ weddings gowns, cheerleading uniforms, and horse show apparel. Leota kept diaries on road trips, writing down the miles, gas prices, names of hotels, and the day’s events. Leota had the ability to remember each family member’s favorite Christmas food and would make sure it was served at Christmas Dinner. Leota served as the secretary/treasurer of the Kiester Valley Saddle Club, was a charter member of Minnesota-Iowa Arabian Horse Club, served on the Fairview Cemetery Board and was a general and project leader of the Kee 4-H Club. She served as a President, Secretary and Treasurer for the Ruth Circle, all at Grace United Methodist Church, a Sunday School teacher and as a Vacation Bible School teacher. Leota made HUNDREDS of cookies for the Grace United Methodist Cookie Fair, as well as making most of the Christmas quilts, which were raffled off. She was featured in the “Country Woman” magazine for the Christmas quilts she made for her four daughters. She spent over 25 years in a row, on Mother’s Day, at a horse show, without complaint and was a featured amateur in the Arabian Horse Times magazine. Later in life Leota loved watching her satellite television. She lived in the Bricelyn, Mansfield and Kiester areas her entire life until she entered Parkview Care Center in September of 2020.
Surviving Leota are her daughters: Dixie (Calvin) Kooiker of LeMars, IA, Cindy (Lyle) Hilbrands of Buffalo, MN, Candy (Sam) Richmond of Cedar Falls, IA, and Lesa (Craig) Leland of Bricelyn, MN; grandchildren: Michelle (Tom) Anderson of Rockford, MN, Jason (Amy) Kooiker of Sioux Falls, SD, Jared (Ann) Kooiker of Woodbury, MN, Ryan (Kate) Richmond of Cedar Falls, IA, and Lindsy (Corey) Krienert of Traer, IA; great-grandchildren: Nathan Anderson of Salt Lake City, UT, Kelsey Anderson of Mankato, MN, Tyler Anderson of Duluth, MN, Gabe and Jameson Richmond of Cedar Falls, IA, Cole Kooiker of Sioux Falls, SD, Andrew and Tobin Kooiker of Woodbury, MN, and Rachel, Maverick, Kruz, and Easton Krienert all of Traer, IA; along with many nieces, nephews, and their families.
Leota is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald (1978); grandson, Brent Hilbrands; siblings: Inez (Carnes) Jensen, Dale (Colleen) Hansen and Robert Hansen (Maxine Wolfe Hansen Karlberg); nephew, Charles Jensen; and many other relatives and friends.
Lesa, Cindy, Candy and Dixie,
So sorry for the loss of your beautiful mother. May she rest in peace. Remember all the good times that you had with her. It was such a pleasure to get to know her.
Such a beautiful tribute to your mom. She lived a wonderful life and doing what she love to do. Baking and sewing. .she will be miss by everyone. Now she can rest and watch over her wonderful family💗💙🙏
Sending prayers and sympathies to the families. I always enjoyed seeing her when I stopped in to visit my Dad. If she saw me she would come in. Always recognized me and called out my name. She was a sweet lady. Cherish her memories.
You’re all in my thoughts and prayers for peace and comfort!! Leota was an amazing lady and will be missed by many!! Thank for the honor and privilege of caring for her!!
My heart mourns with yours in the loss of your wonderful mother!!! What a magnificent and elegant life she led………not only in her many years with us here on earth, but for the long lists of how her life touched so many other lives in such loving ways!!! It IS a solace to our hearts, as Christians, to know that we saw her say, “Goodnight earth and Good Morning Glory!!” What a grand reunion it will be for us to hug and love on our dear parents who have gone before us into His loving arms. My prayers are for your solace and comfort in the days ahead as you prepare to celebrate your precious mother’s life!!! Love to all!! >
You all were blessed with a wonderful mother. I met Leota as a horse show mom and she was a great one. You always knew what she thought of the classes. I had the opportunity to meet Lesa’s sisters and family over the years and I have you all in my prayers as you adjust to the loss of your beloved matriarch. May all of the wonderful memories of Leota warm your hearts.
God really got a good one in your Mother. Such a fantastic lady! She was amazing and will be sorely missed. Take comfort in all her good works and the many friends she made during her amazing life. She definitely lived a full and active life to the hilt! Rest in peace Leota
Candy…so sorry to hear this sad news…do remember her from our days on Doreen. Such a sweet talented lady…keep precious memories close to your heart.
Leota was a role model not just for her daughters but for all women. To me personally she was a precious neighbor and friend. What memories her girls will have. She will be missed
We’re so sorry about your mother. I always enjoyed hearing about her from Dixie during our Westmar days and beyond. Her obituary was wonderfully written and just like I remembered her. Throughout your sadness, keep remembering her happier days. Our prayers and warm thoughts to all of your families.
Thoughts and prayers to all of you! I knew and had many great memories with Leota. She was a leader at 4-H,Church,etc. You all have many great memories!!Hang on to these!
My sister Charity and I are fondly remembering what a help Leota was with our 4-H sewing and other projects. She had expert skills and was a great project leader and mentor. Also was active in our church and always had a warm smile and friendly outreach. My thoughts and good memories to all of you Dahls! – Dixie, Cindy, Candace, and Lesa.
Dear Dixie, Cindy, Candy & Lesa,
I have fond memories of spending time at your house, and I remember how your Mom was always baking and the dining room table was used for at least one sewing project if not more. Candy, “Thank-you!” for the fun times we spent together. Your Mom will be missed by so many including myself. I was blessed to be “adopted” into the Hansen family! Please know all of you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs & Blessings,
Betsy K.