Leona Eldine (Johnson) Hawks was born June 11,1915, near Alexandria to Christof and Amelia (Eppler) Johnson and departed this life April 7, 2009, at the age of 93 years.
She was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church, Ohiowa and confirmed in the same church Nov. 24, 1929. Leona was one of eight siblings. The other children were Vernon, Ronald, Dorothy, Gaylord, twins, Darlene and Arlene and Verienne. Both Ronald and Arlene died in childhood.
The family moved to a farm north and east of Bruning where she attended grade school at East Ward.
As a child Leona enjoyed ponies and horses. She had a shetland pony that always chased her under the hayrack. Later, she had a horse named Raidix that she spent many hours with. She also drove the family to church as a young girl, as she was the only one who knew how to drive the car.
Leona attended Bruning High School, where she graduated in 1932 as valedictorian of the class.
Leona went to York College Summer School, passed teachers' exams and taught for two years at District 30 and one year at Hawks School.
On Sept. 3, 1933, she eloped with her high school sweetheart, Fieldon Hawks. She joined the Methodist church, and the family moved to a farm west of Carleton, where Howard and JoAnne were born.
In 1939, they packed the family and possessions into a 1928 Chevy, chickens in crates on the fenders and moved to Englewood, Colo., where he was employed at Gates Rubber Company. The family returned to Bruning in 1942 and later moved to the Hawks home place where Sharon and Tom were born.
To supplement farm income, Fieldon started selling insurance part time. In 1965, they built a new home in Bruning and Fieldon sold insurance full time until retirement.
Leona was very active in community and church affairs. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and served as Sunday School superintendent of the Methodist church for years. She was also active on the district and conference levels spending four years as secretary of Spiritual Life and two years as secretary of Missionary Personnel in the old WSCS Conference. She, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Garrels and often mother-inlaw, Carrie Hawks, traveled as far as Oregon to conference gatherings. She kept many friends from those conference and district days.
Leona was still teaching the Bible and scriptures when she was in the group home in Arizona. She was very proud that she got two caregivers to read the Bible and her lessons with her. One of the caregivers now reads the Bible every day. She truly taught the Bible and its meaning up to the very last.
She also held offices in the Bruning Woman`s Club where she was a 50 year member.
She enjoyed fishing trips to Lake McConaughy, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Some of the grandchildren were lucky to join in the fun, boating and cleaning fish with a fish fry always on July 4th. Leona, along with Fieldon, were avid Husker fans.
In 1979, she and Fieldon began spending winters in Arizona. They prized their grapefruit and orange trees and fellowship with friends and relatives. Leona always had some craft project in the works and loved playing the organ. Summers were spent growing a great garden in Bruning, canning, ball games, and watching harvest.
Following Fieldon`s death, Leona drew strength from her family and network of friends who would stop by with garden produce, take her to town for meals, bring her mail, books, groceries. She was a faithful follower of the local ball games and seldom missed church. If you went somewhere, she was going along. In her last years, she particularly enjoyed her birthday dinners and enjoyed one last trip with her siblings to Saddleback Mountain Ranch in Colorado. She also enjoyed all the little kids` activities and programs both here and in Arizona. She had a soft touch for anyone that needed her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fieldon; daughter-in law, Myrna (Howard) Hawks, grandson, Chris Hawks; granddaughter-in-law, Rose Marie (Tim) Hawks; great-granddaughter, Stella Erin Veik; brothers, Vernon and wife June, Ronald; sisters, Arlene, Dorothy (Paul) Raines, Darlene (Darrell) Messman; sister-in law, Dorothy Hawks (Melvin) Garrels and brother-in-law, Robert (Verienne) Hulse.
She is survived by children, Howard (Rhonda) Hawks of Omaha, JoAnne (Don) Lubben of Bruning, Sharon (Eldon) Mulligan of Mesa, Ariz., and Thomas (HuLaine) Hawks of Geneva; grandchildren, Neal Hawks, Timothy Hawks, Troy (Heather) Hawks, Lisa (Mark) Thomsen, Rachel Masker, Monte (Karla) Lubben, Greg (Belinda) Lubben, Jennifer (James) Tietjen, Dawn Murphy, Deanna Veik, Mitchell (Melissa) Branting, Matthew (Amy) Branting, Garry (Yvonne) Mulligan, Michael Mulligan, Tamara Mulligan and Brett, Jeff Hawks; 19 great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren; brother, Gaylord Johnson; brother-in-law, Paul (Maxine) Raines; sister, Verienne (Robert) Hulse; sister-inlaw, Lola (Vernon) Johnson, aunt-in-law, Pauline Hawks, many nephews, nieces and families.
Services were held on April 14 at the United Methodist Church in Bruning with Pastor Lorri Kentner officiating the service. Kathy Priefert accompanied the congregation in the singing of "How Great Thou Art," and "It Is Well With My Soul." She also accompanied Eldon Mulligan in the singing of "On Eagles' Wing," and she accompanied Tamara Mulligan and Dawn Murphy in the duet, "The Lord's Prayer."
Pallbearers included Matt Branting, Jeff Hawks, Mitch Branting, Greg Lubben, Monte Lubben, Tim Hawks and Neal Hawks.
Honorary bearers included Rachel Masker and Lisa Thomsen.
Interment was held in the Bruning Public Cemetery.
Farmer & Son Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Memorials are directed to the United Methodist Church and Bruning Public Cemetery Association.
Published in the Hebron Journal-Register on April 15, 2009.
She was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church, Ohiowa and confirmed in the same church Nov. 24, 1929. Leona was one of eight siblings. The other children were Vernon, Ronald, Dorothy, Gaylord, twins, Darlene and Arlene and Verienne. Both Ronald and Arlene died in childhood.
The family moved to a farm north and east of Bruning where she attended grade school at East Ward.
As a child Leona enjoyed ponies and horses. She had a shetland pony that always chased her under the hayrack. Later, she had a horse named Raidix that she spent many hours with. She also drove the family to church as a young girl, as she was the only one who knew how to drive the car.
Leona attended Bruning High School, where she graduated in 1932 as valedictorian of the class.
Leona went to York College Summer School, passed teachers' exams and taught for two years at District 30 and one year at Hawks School.
On Sept. 3, 1933, she eloped with her high school sweetheart, Fieldon Hawks. She joined the Methodist church, and the family moved to a farm west of Carleton, where Howard and JoAnne were born.
In 1939, they packed the family and possessions into a 1928 Chevy, chickens in crates on the fenders and moved to Englewood, Colo., where he was employed at Gates Rubber Company. The family returned to Bruning in 1942 and later moved to the Hawks home place where Sharon and Tom were born.
To supplement farm income, Fieldon started selling insurance part time. In 1965, they built a new home in Bruning and Fieldon sold insurance full time until retirement.
Leona was very active in community and church affairs. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and served as Sunday School superintendent of the Methodist church for years. She was also active on the district and conference levels spending four years as secretary of Spiritual Life and two years as secretary of Missionary Personnel in the old WSCS Conference. She, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Garrels and often mother-inlaw, Carrie Hawks, traveled as far as Oregon to conference gatherings. She kept many friends from those conference and district days.
Leona was still teaching the Bible and scriptures when she was in the group home in Arizona. She was very proud that she got two caregivers to read the Bible and her lessons with her. One of the caregivers now reads the Bible every day. She truly taught the Bible and its meaning up to the very last.
She also held offices in the Bruning Woman`s Club where she was a 50 year member.
She enjoyed fishing trips to Lake McConaughy, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Some of the grandchildren were lucky to join in the fun, boating and cleaning fish with a fish fry always on July 4th. Leona, along with Fieldon, were avid Husker fans.
In 1979, she and Fieldon began spending winters in Arizona. They prized their grapefruit and orange trees and fellowship with friends and relatives. Leona always had some craft project in the works and loved playing the organ. Summers were spent growing a great garden in Bruning, canning, ball games, and watching harvest.
Following Fieldon`s death, Leona drew strength from her family and network of friends who would stop by with garden produce, take her to town for meals, bring her mail, books, groceries. She was a faithful follower of the local ball games and seldom missed church. If you went somewhere, she was going along. In her last years, she particularly enjoyed her birthday dinners and enjoyed one last trip with her siblings to Saddleback Mountain Ranch in Colorado. She also enjoyed all the little kids` activities and programs both here and in Arizona. She had a soft touch for anyone that needed her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fieldon; daughter-in law, Myrna (Howard) Hawks, grandson, Chris Hawks; granddaughter-in-law, Rose Marie (Tim) Hawks; great-granddaughter, Stella Erin Veik; brothers, Vernon and wife June, Ronald; sisters, Arlene, Dorothy (Paul) Raines, Darlene (Darrell) Messman; sister-in law, Dorothy Hawks (Melvin) Garrels and brother-in-law, Robert (Verienne) Hulse.
She is survived by children, Howard (Rhonda) Hawks of Omaha, JoAnne (Don) Lubben of Bruning, Sharon (Eldon) Mulligan of Mesa, Ariz., and Thomas (HuLaine) Hawks of Geneva; grandchildren, Neal Hawks, Timothy Hawks, Troy (Heather) Hawks, Lisa (Mark) Thomsen, Rachel Masker, Monte (Karla) Lubben, Greg (Belinda) Lubben, Jennifer (James) Tietjen, Dawn Murphy, Deanna Veik, Mitchell (Melissa) Branting, Matthew (Amy) Branting, Garry (Yvonne) Mulligan, Michael Mulligan, Tamara Mulligan and Brett, Jeff Hawks; 19 great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren; brother, Gaylord Johnson; brother-in-law, Paul (Maxine) Raines; sister, Verienne (Robert) Hulse; sister-inlaw, Lola (Vernon) Johnson, aunt-in-law, Pauline Hawks, many nephews, nieces and families.
Services were held on April 14 at the United Methodist Church in Bruning with Pastor Lorri Kentner officiating the service. Kathy Priefert accompanied the congregation in the singing of "How Great Thou Art," and "It Is Well With My Soul." She also accompanied Eldon Mulligan in the singing of "On Eagles' Wing," and she accompanied Tamara Mulligan and Dawn Murphy in the duet, "The Lord's Prayer."
Pallbearers included Matt Branting, Jeff Hawks, Mitch Branting, Greg Lubben, Monte Lubben, Tim Hawks and Neal Hawks.
Honorary bearers included Rachel Masker and Lisa Thomsen.
Interment was held in the Bruning Public Cemetery.
Farmer & Son Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Memorials are directed to the United Methodist Church and Bruning Public Cemetery Association.
Published in the Hebron Journal-Register on April 15, 2009.
Leona Eldine (Johnson) Hawks was born June 11,1915, near Alexandria to Christof and Amelia (Eppler) Johnson and departed this life April 7, 2009, at the age of 93 years.
She was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church, Ohiowa and confirmed in the same church Nov. 24, 1929. Leona was one of eight siblings. The other children were Vernon, Ronald, Dorothy, Gaylord, twins, Darlene and Arlene and Verienne. Both Ronald and Arlene died in childhood.
The family moved to a farm north and east of Bruning where she attended grade school at East Ward.
As a child Leona enjoyed ponies and horses. She had a shetland pony that always chased her under the hayrack. Later, she had a horse named Raidix that she spent many hours with. She also drove the family to church as a young girl, as she was the only one who knew how to drive the car.
Leona attended Bruning High School, where she graduated in 1932 as valedictorian of the class.
Leona went to York College Summer School, passed teachers' exams and taught for two years at District 30 and one year at Hawks School.
On Sept. 3, 1933, she eloped with her high school sweetheart, Fieldon Hawks. She joined the Methodist church, and the family moved to a farm west of Carleton, where Howard and JoAnne were born.
In 1939, they packed the family and possessions into a 1928 Chevy, chickens in crates on the fenders and moved to Englewood, Colo., where he was employed at Gates Rubber Company. The family returned to Bruning in 1942 and later moved to the Hawks home place where Sharon and Tom were born.
To supplement farm income, Fieldon started selling insurance part time. In 1965, they built a new home in Bruning and Fieldon sold insurance full time until retirement.
Leona was very active in community and church affairs. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and served as Sunday School superintendent of the Methodist church for years. She was also active on the district and conference levels spending four years as secretary of Spiritual Life and two years as secretary of Missionary Personnel in the old WSCS Conference. She, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Garrels and often mother-inlaw, Carrie Hawks, traveled as far as Oregon to conference gatherings. She kept many friends from those conference and district days.
Leona was still teaching the Bible and scriptures when she was in the group home in Arizona. She was very proud that she got two caregivers to read the Bible and her lessons with her. One of the caregivers now reads the Bible every day. She truly taught the Bible and its meaning up to the very last.
She also held offices in the Bruning Woman`s Club where she was a 50 year member.
She enjoyed fishing trips to Lake McConaughy, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Some of the grandchildren were lucky to join in the fun, boating and cleaning fish with a fish fry always on July 4th. Leona, along with Fieldon, were avid Husker fans.
In 1979, she and Fieldon began spending winters in Arizona. They prized their grapefruit and orange trees and fellowship with friends and relatives. Leona always had some craft project in the works and loved playing the organ. Summers were spent growing a great garden in Bruning, canning, ball games, and watching harvest.
Following Fieldon`s death, Leona drew strength from her family and network of friends who would stop by with garden produce, take her to town for meals, bring her mail, books, groceries. She was a faithful follower of the local ball games and seldom missed church. If you went somewhere, she was going along. In her last years, she particularly enjoyed her birthday dinners and enjoyed one last trip with her siblings to Saddleback Mountain Ranch in Colorado. She also enjoyed all the little kids` activities and programs both here and in Arizona. She had a soft touch for anyone that needed her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fieldon; daughter-in law, Myrna (Howard) Hawks, grandson, Chris Hawks; granddaughter-in-law, Rose Marie (Tim) Hawks; great-granddaughter, Stella Erin Veik; brothers, Vernon and wife June, Ronald; sisters, Arlene, Dorothy (Paul) Raines, Darlene (Darrell) Messman; sister-in law, Dorothy Hawks (Melvin) Garrels and brother-in-law, Robert (Verienne) Hulse.
She is survived by children, Howard (Rhonda) Hawks of Omaha, JoAnne (Don) Lubben of Bruning, Sharon (Eldon) Mulligan of Mesa, Ariz., and Thomas (HuLaine) Hawks of Geneva; grandchildren, Neal Hawks, Timothy Hawks, Troy (Heather) Hawks, Lisa (Mark) Thomsen, Rachel Masker, Monte (Karla) Lubben, Greg (Belinda) Lubben, Jennifer (James) Tietjen, Dawn Murphy, Deanna Veik, Mitchell (Melissa) Branting, Matthew (Amy) Branting, Garry (Yvonne) Mulligan, Michael Mulligan, Tamara Mulligan and Brett, Jeff Hawks; 19 great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren; brother, Gaylord Johnson; brother-in-law, Paul (Maxine) Raines; sister, Verienne (Robert) Hulse; sister-inlaw, Lola (Vernon) Johnson, aunt-in-law, Pauline Hawks, many nephews, nieces and families.
Services were held on April 14 at the United Methodist Church in Bruning with Pastor Lorri Kentner officiating the service. Kathy Priefert accompanied the congregation in the singing of "How Great Thou Art," and "It Is Well With My Soul." She also accompanied Eldon Mulligan in the singing of "On Eagles' Wing," and she accompanied Tamara Mulligan and Dawn Murphy in the duet, "The Lord's Prayer."
Pallbearers included Matt Branting, Jeff Hawks, Mitch Branting, Greg Lubben, Monte Lubben, Tim Hawks and Neal Hawks.
Honorary bearers included Rachel Masker and Lisa Thomsen.
Interment was held in the Bruning Public Cemetery.
Farmer & Son Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Memorials are directed to the United Methodist Church and Bruning Public Cemetery Association.
Published in the Hebron Journal-Register on April 15, 2009.
She was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church, Ohiowa and confirmed in the same church Nov. 24, 1929. Leona was one of eight siblings. The other children were Vernon, Ronald, Dorothy, Gaylord, twins, Darlene and Arlene and Verienne. Both Ronald and Arlene died in childhood.
The family moved to a farm north and east of Bruning where she attended grade school at East Ward.
As a child Leona enjoyed ponies and horses. She had a shetland pony that always chased her under the hayrack. Later, she had a horse named Raidix that she spent many hours with. She also drove the family to church as a young girl, as she was the only one who knew how to drive the car.
Leona attended Bruning High School, where she graduated in 1932 as valedictorian of the class.
Leona went to York College Summer School, passed teachers' exams and taught for two years at District 30 and one year at Hawks School.
On Sept. 3, 1933, she eloped with her high school sweetheart, Fieldon Hawks. She joined the Methodist church, and the family moved to a farm west of Carleton, where Howard and JoAnne were born.
In 1939, they packed the family and possessions into a 1928 Chevy, chickens in crates on the fenders and moved to Englewood, Colo., where he was employed at Gates Rubber Company. The family returned to Bruning in 1942 and later moved to the Hawks home place where Sharon and Tom were born.
To supplement farm income, Fieldon started selling insurance part time. In 1965, they built a new home in Bruning and Fieldon sold insurance full time until retirement.
Leona was very active in community and church affairs. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, and served as Sunday School superintendent of the Methodist church for years. She was also active on the district and conference levels spending four years as secretary of Spiritual Life and two years as secretary of Missionary Personnel in the old WSCS Conference. She, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Garrels and often mother-inlaw, Carrie Hawks, traveled as far as Oregon to conference gatherings. She kept many friends from those conference and district days.
Leona was still teaching the Bible and scriptures when she was in the group home in Arizona. She was very proud that she got two caregivers to read the Bible and her lessons with her. One of the caregivers now reads the Bible every day. She truly taught the Bible and its meaning up to the very last.
She also held offices in the Bruning Woman`s Club where she was a 50 year member.
She enjoyed fishing trips to Lake McConaughy, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Some of the grandchildren were lucky to join in the fun, boating and cleaning fish with a fish fry always on July 4th. Leona, along with Fieldon, were avid Husker fans.
In 1979, she and Fieldon began spending winters in Arizona. They prized their grapefruit and orange trees and fellowship with friends and relatives. Leona always had some craft project in the works and loved playing the organ. Summers were spent growing a great garden in Bruning, canning, ball games, and watching harvest.
Following Fieldon`s death, Leona drew strength from her family and network of friends who would stop by with garden produce, take her to town for meals, bring her mail, books, groceries. She was a faithful follower of the local ball games and seldom missed church. If you went somewhere, she was going along. In her last years, she particularly enjoyed her birthday dinners and enjoyed one last trip with her siblings to Saddleback Mountain Ranch in Colorado. She also enjoyed all the little kids` activities and programs both here and in Arizona. She had a soft touch for anyone that needed her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fieldon; daughter-in law, Myrna (Howard) Hawks, grandson, Chris Hawks; granddaughter-in-law, Rose Marie (Tim) Hawks; great-granddaughter, Stella Erin Veik; brothers, Vernon and wife June, Ronald; sisters, Arlene, Dorothy (Paul) Raines, Darlene (Darrell) Messman; sister-in law, Dorothy Hawks (Melvin) Garrels and brother-in-law, Robert (Verienne) Hulse.
She is survived by children, Howard (Rhonda) Hawks of Omaha, JoAnne (Don) Lubben of Bruning, Sharon (Eldon) Mulligan of Mesa, Ariz., and Thomas (HuLaine) Hawks of Geneva; grandchildren, Neal Hawks, Timothy Hawks, Troy (Heather) Hawks, Lisa (Mark) Thomsen, Rachel Masker, Monte (Karla) Lubben, Greg (Belinda) Lubben, Jennifer (James) Tietjen, Dawn Murphy, Deanna Veik, Mitchell (Melissa) Branting, Matthew (Amy) Branting, Garry (Yvonne) Mulligan, Michael Mulligan, Tamara Mulligan and Brett, Jeff Hawks; 19 great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren; brother, Gaylord Johnson; brother-in-law, Paul (Maxine) Raines; sister, Verienne (Robert) Hulse; sister-inlaw, Lola (Vernon) Johnson, aunt-in-law, Pauline Hawks, many nephews, nieces and families.
Services were held on April 14 at the United Methodist Church in Bruning with Pastor Lorri Kentner officiating the service. Kathy Priefert accompanied the congregation in the singing of "How Great Thou Art," and "It Is Well With My Soul." She also accompanied Eldon Mulligan in the singing of "On Eagles' Wing," and she accompanied Tamara Mulligan and Dawn Murphy in the duet, "The Lord's Prayer."
Pallbearers included Matt Branting, Jeff Hawks, Mitch Branting, Greg Lubben, Monte Lubben, Tim Hawks and Neal Hawks.
Honorary bearers included Rachel Masker and Lisa Thomsen.
Interment was held in the Bruning Public Cemetery.
Farmer & Son Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Memorials are directed to the United Methodist Church and Bruning Public Cemetery Association.
Published in the Hebron Journal-Register on April 15, 2009.
Family Members
Spouse
Siblings
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
