When she was 4 years old, her father died on her birthday, leaving her mother with Gena and two younger brothers to care for. Gena's mother moved the family to Harrison,Idaho, to be close to extended family. The family built a boarding house for Gena's family to live in and operate. The income from the boarding house provided Gena's hardworking and thrifty mother enough money to provide for all of her children's needs, including college education for all three. Gena attended St. Luke's School of Nursing, and she eventually made her way to Alaska to work as a nurse for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In November 1943, Gena enlisted with the Army and worked as a nurse in a former French military school. She was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service medal, the American Theater Service medal and the WWII Victory Medal. After her service ended in 1946, she went to work for the Veterans Hospital in Walla Walla Washington, there she met Mervin Leonard and married him on April 24, 1948
When she was 4 years old, her father died on her birthday, leaving her mother with Gena and two younger brothers to care for. Gena's mother moved the family to Harrison,Idaho, to be close to extended family. The family built a boarding house for Gena's family to live in and operate. The income from the boarding house provided Gena's hardworking and thrifty mother enough money to provide for all of her children's needs, including college education for all three. Gena attended St. Luke's School of Nursing, and she eventually made her way to Alaska to work as a nurse for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In November 1943, Gena enlisted with the Army and worked as a nurse in a former French military school. She was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service medal, the American Theater Service medal and the WWII Victory Medal. After her service ended in 1946, she went to work for the Veterans Hospital in Walla Walla Washington, there she met Mervin Leonard and married him on April 24, 1948
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