Click here to view Leona's Funeral Mass

Leona V. Friedt, age 94 of Mott, ND passed away on Monday, May 10, 2021 at St. Gabriel's Benedictine Living Center in Bismarck, ND.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am MT on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Mott with Fr. Stephen Folorunso officiating.  The burial will be on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 11:00 am CT at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.

The Funeral Mass will be live streamed and available for viewing on Leona's obituary on our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2021 from 1:00 – 7:00 pm MT, with a Rosary and Vigil Service to start at 7:00 pm all at St. Vincent's Catholic Church.

How do you condense the vastness of such a beautiful life into a few short words?  A life filled with a purpose of serving others that not even the most complete set of cookbooks could contain or describe.  Such was the life on this earth for our beloved mother, Leona.

Leona Violet was born in Highland Township on April 4, 1927 to Emerick and Eva (Neurohr) Koenig.  Leona was baptized, received first communion, and confirmed at St. Stephen's Church in rural Richardton. She attended school in Highland Township through the eighth grade.  Her early years were filled with hard work and fun with her sisters and brother on the family farm until she married.

On September 27, 1949 she was united in marriage to Alex M. Friedt, Jr.  at St. Stephen's Church. Alex and Leona were members of St. Placidus Church prior to the church closing, they then became members of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Mott.  They settled on their current farmstead in 1955. Along with their ten children, they raised grain crops, cattle, hogs, poultry and operated a dairy.

Leona was a homemaker and dedicated her life to raising her children.  As a farm wife, she tended a garden of vegetables and flowers, raised chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese, in addition to assisting with the dairy herd.  Some of her favorite flowers were gladiolas, dahlias, and pansies. She shared her flower arrangements on the St. Vincent's Church altar.  Leona was an amazing cook and a wonderful baker.  She made the best "from scratch" specialties including chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles, strudel, rubbernecks, fruit cake, fried chicken (not so secret ingredient - lard), pigs feet, sauerkraut,  angel food cakes, German potato salad, sugar cookies, Easter bread and caramel rolls.  Everyone looked forward to their birthday, as she would bake an angel food cake as your special gift.  She believed in giving to others and during your long goodbyes, she was quick to make sure you had something to take along, there was no saying no.  When she visited family, the car was used as an extension of her house and heart and the car became known as "strudel hauler" to the family.  Sundays and holidays were special to share large meals with family and friends.  Leona also shared her many baked goods with organizations and others.

Leona was a member of the St. Placidus and St. Vincent Altar Societies and was a member of St. Veronica's Court of Catholic Daughters of the Americas for over 65 years.  She enjoyed attending State and National CDA Conferences.  She prepared food and attended Knights of Columbus social events with her husband, Alex.  She enjoyed traveling to events of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

As Mom's health began to decline, she spent her last few months at St. Gabriel's Benedictine Living Center in Bismarck.  She carried her cross with dignity and grace and managed to find the good in each day.  She was dearly and tenderly cared for by the beautiful St. Gabriel's staff and Hospice of the Red River Valley.  In addition to carrying the load of the pandemic, the staff went above and beyond to ensure she was taken care of in the best way possible.  Mom was touched by visits from Reverends Stephen Folorunso, Bruce Krebs, John Paul Gardner, and spiritual director Keven Wanner and Rev. Jerry Kautzman who minister to the residents of St Gabriel's.

Leona is survived by her children; Delores Friedt, Bismarck, ND, Duane (Ardella) Friedt, Bismarck, Leon (Sherryl) Friedt, Mott, ND, Virginia (Michael) Jennings, Woodinville, WA, Denis (Joy) Friedt, Shell Knob, MO, Arlene (Brad) Pozarnsky, Bottineau, ND, LeRoy (Stephanie) Friedt, Bismarck, Godfrey (Cathy) Friedt, Omaha, NE, Lenora Friedt (special friend Karla Buzick), Bismarck, and Alex III (Myrna) Friedt, Carrington, ND; grandchildren; Shannon (Keith) Fimreite, Jay (Joni), Audrey (Josh) Anderson, Gregory (Tara), Curtis (special friend Laura Fleig), Tonya (Joe) Van Ee, Michelle (Jorgan) Peadon, Jared (Lisa) Jennings, Christopher (Geny) Jennings, Tricia Friedt, Tyler Lutz, NaTasha (Jason) Sawicki, Daniel Pozarnsky, Chelsey Pozarnsky, Brianna (Mike) Weisbeck, Sara (fiancé Brett Wanner), Mary (Matt) Loftus, Andrew, Hannah, Mathew, Sage, Savanna, Sydney and Sierra; great grandchildren; Evelyn, Vivian, Gideon, Adelaide, Aidan, Tevyn, Kinley, and Brennen, Samuel, Violet, Henry, Mabel, Alayna, Clara, Alora, Joren, Gemma, Peter, and Gabrielle; her siblings Josephine Messmer and Luella Friedt.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Alex and her siblings, Katherine Zent, Anna Obrigewich, Fred Koenig, and son-in-law, Dennis Lutz.

Leona had a deep faith in Jesus and his mother Mary,  which fed a life of daily devotion to praying the rosary and divine mercy chaplet. She left us a legacy of extraordinary faith, love, strength and grace which will continue to be shared among her extended family, her numerous friends and the community which grew to know her and her kindness over the years. We will miss her greatly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CDA Court St. Veronica, ND Right to Life, Hospice of the Red River Valley, or a charity of your choice.