Leona (Rau) Thon of Harvey, ND passed away surrounded by her family on January 4, 2024 at the age of 91.

A celebration of her life will be at 10:30 a.m. on  Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Faith Lutheran Church in Harvey, ND.  Burial will follow in the Sunnyside Cemetery, Harvey.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan.10 with a prayer service following at 7 p.m. at Hertz Funeral Home, Harvey, ND.

The service will be streamed live on the Faith Lutheran Church, Harvey, ND Website.

Leona is survived by her two daughters, Sandra (Mark) Tungseth of rural Drayton, ND and Sally (Mark) Wagner of rural Kennedy, MN; her five grandchildren, Mandi (Tyler) Soltvedt, Joshua (Amanda) Tungseth, Alyssa (Fabrice) Kunzi, Kayla (Travis) Huerkamp, and Kimberly (Maxwel) Eggiman; her thirteen great-grandchildren, Norah, Audrey, Owen, Tyla, Jace, Madeline, Nathaniel, Theodore, Willa, Turner, Hazel, Etta, and Porter; and many nieces and nephews.

Leona Bertha Rau was born on September 15, 1932 in rural Lincoln Valley, ND to Gottfried and Minnie Rau.  She attended school at New Germantown Township.  Leona farmed with her parents north of Lincoln Valley.  She was baptized and confirmed at Kassel Reform Church and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior during her time in confirmation.  On March 1, 1953, Leona married the love of her life, Gorden Thon, in Harvey, ND.  Together they raised two daughters, Sandy and Sally.  They farmed in rural Harvey and later established Thon Construction.  In 1970, they moved into town to a home Gorden had built for them.  In addition to helping on the farm and with their construction business, Leona enjoyed teaching Sunday School, babysitting, leading Luther League, cooking, and gardening.  She was privileged to help care for her mother for many years before she entered the nursing home, and her concern and love for the elderly continued after her mother passed away and she would visit people in the nursing home or at home.  She looked forward to the times she could spend with her grandchildren and precious great-grandchildren and was always ready for a puzzle or game night!  She attended Bible Study and a quilting group at Faith Lutheran.  Leona and Gorden spent 29 years wintering in Arizona, and their friends and their home in Apache Junction held a special place in their hearts.  During her recent battle with multiple myeloma, Leona trusted in God and relied on her faith to give her strength to face each day.

Leona was preceded in death by her husband Gorden in December 2011, her mother and father, her sister Irene Gross, her brothers Marvin Rau and Clarence Rau, and her baby sister.