Leona Bentfield

Leona M. Bentfield, 89, of Melrose died Sunday, April 20, 2003 at Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Alexius Catholic Church in West Union. Rev. Ken Thielman will officiate with interment following in parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. St. Ann's Christian Mothers of West Union and Daughters of Isabella of Osakis will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Leona Bentfield was born October 28, 1913 in Meire Grove, Minnesota to Joseph and Anna (Kampsen) Eibensteiner. She was united in marriage to John Bentfield on September 24, 1934 in Meire Grove, Minnesota. The couple farmed near the West Union area all of their lives. She was a resident at Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose for the past four years. Leona was a member of St. Alexius Catholic Church in West Union, St. Ann's Christian Mothers of West Union and Daughters of Isabella of Osakis.

Survivors include her children, Beatrice Monn of St. Cloud, Merina Odegard and her husband, Victor of Sauk Centre, Vernon Bentfield and his wife, Ellen of Osakis, Rita Hacker and her husband, John of Dayton, Ohio, Ray Bentfield and his wife, Jeanne of Elk River, Marvin Bentfield and his wife, Lois of Delano and Linda Dirkes and her husband, Clarence of Sauk Centre; 22 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; sisters and brothers, Hilda Petermeier of Melrose, Selma Stalboerger of Melrose, Werner Eibensteiner and his wife, Lucille of Albany, Sister LaVonne Eibensteiner, O.S.B. of St. Joseph and Brother Gregory Eibensteiner, O.S.B. of Collegeville.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Anna Eibensteiner; husband, John Bentfield on December 19, 1975; brother, Hugo Eibensteiner; sisters, Frieda Winter, Mildred Welle, Elsie Felling, Florentine Walz and Rita Stalboerger; grandchildren, Kathy Meyer and Lisa Odegard; great grandchildren, Caleb John Odegard and Christina Bentfield.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jim Odegard, Tom Odegard, Joey Eibensteiner, Merle Felling, Matthew Dirkes, Mark Monn, Jason Bentfield and John Bentfield. Serving as cross bearer will be Nancy Bentfield and John Odegard will be scripture bearer. Gift bearers will be Theresa Dirkes and Michelle Monn with Merina Odegard as the lector. Honorary bearers will be St. Ann's Christian Mothers.