Leona Malinda Arestad, 92
Leona Malinda Arestad, 92, passed away peacefully in Colorado on April 4, 2017.
Leona was born July 8, 1924, on the family farm in Bowden County, North Dakota, to Fred and Susie Miller. She was the fourth of five children with siblings, Jonathon, Clara, Viola and Lloyd.
After graduating from high school, Leona earned her teaching certificate from Valley City Teacher’s College. Leona followed her passion of teaching young minds in a one-room school in rural North Dakota, and then in several elementary schools in Montana. She loved being a teacher and watching her students grow into adults. It was through their shared passion for teaching that Leona met and fell in love with her husband of 56 years, Omvall Berger “OB” Arestad. They were married on Nov. 25, 1948, and they became the proud parents of three sons, John, Jim and Jeff, whom they raised in Kalispell.
During her time in Kalispell, Leona was active at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, participating in Circle and Ladies Aid. She was also very active in the Kalispell Education Association and was proud to serve in leadership roles for negotiation committees seeking to improve work conditions, wages and benefits. Leona was also an active member and officer of Beta Sigma Phi, both in Kalispell and later in Tucson, Arizona. Leona and OB moved to Arizona after her retirement. She later moved to Denver to be closer to family.
Family was a very important part of Leona’s life. She was the organizer of family gatherings, a champion of OB’s music events, and the number one fan at her sons’ musical, sporting and social events. Leona was a strong promoter and protector of her husband, sons, and her extended family.
Leona was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and her siblings.
She is survived by her sons, John and wife Gloria, Jim, and Jeff; grandchildren, Michael, Kristen, Ian, Cecilia, Lydia and Sarah; and great-grandchildren, Hayden and Ava.
Our matriarch, Leona, will be missed. We take joy that she is now with the Lord and has joined OB in rest.
Services will be announced at a later date.