Leona Lucille (Zdeb) Hendrickson

LEONA ZDEB HENDRICKSON

NOVEMBER 5th 1925 – JANUARY 27th 2021

 On a farm near Pingree, ND, on November 5th 1925, a daughter was born to Joseph and Elna (Carlson) Zdeb. This was a change for them after parenting four sons. Leona Brown, a friend of the family and a midwife, was present at the birth and proved to be the namesake for little Leona Zdeb. Brother Joe, Jr. is responsible for pinning the life long nickname “SIS” on his little sister.

 The Zdeb family moved to Valley City, ND, when Leona was two years old. She attended the Training School there through the fifth grade and then enjoyed country life along with the rest of the family dozen when they relocated on a farm south of Valley City.

 Eighth grade graduation for Leona was from the King School. This was a county affair and held at Chautauqua Park in Valley City. After attending nearly, a year of high school at St. Catherine’s in Valley City, Leona returned to the farm where she was helpful and comfortable.

 On June 30th 1943, Leona was united in marriage with James Albert Hendrickson from Eastedge, ND. Three children were born to them: Janice Leona, James LeRoy and David Wayne. The Hendrickson family farmed in Barnes County near Pillsbury and Oriska before purchasing three quarters of land from Grandpa Thill and Grandma Bertha Hendrickson in 1952. Later they bought two quarters, also in the Nome, Fingal area from Nels and Helga Mahlum. These five quarters of land, along with live stock, kept the family well occupied. Yes, there were many satisfying rewards from tilling the soil and caring for the animals.

 Because of a demand for teachers and some very lean years on the farm, Leona attended the Fingal High School for one year and passed the GED test for her high school diploma. She then acquired a two-year teaching certificate from Valley City State College in 1963. Leona then commuted to Marion, ND, to teach elementary school for eight and one-half years. Those were enjoyable years for Leona, and the money earned was put to good use, needless to say.

 When Jan, Jim Jr, and Dave were grown and gone from the “nest”, Leona became more involved with the farming again. Yet she accomplished her personal goal by earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from Valley City State College in 1975.

 Due to unhappy circumstances Leona kept her equity but parted from the family farm near Nome in 1979. She resided in Buffalo and Fargo until she moved to Maryhill Manor in Enderlin where she passed away on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.

 Leona had numerous interests and hobbies: stitchery, photography, Scrabble, boating, biking, reading, ballooning, playing cards and of course some Bingo.

 The closeness of the Zdeb family has been very important and gratifying to Leona.

 Leona is survived by her daughter, Janice Van De Kerckhove of Fargo, her son, David Hendrickson of Rapid City, four grandchildren, Steve Langemo of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Brandi Hendrickson of Glenwood, Iowa, David and Tyler Hendrickson of Boise, Idaho. and four great grandchildren.

 Leona was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers, three sisters, James A. Hendrickson, and her son, James L. Hendrickson.

Visitation: Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Armstrong Funeral Home, Enderlin, ND.

Funeral Service: Monday, February 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Waldheim Lutheran Church, rural Kathryn, ND.

For those attending the visitation and funeral, you are encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing. The service can be viewed on the website at 5:00 p.m. on Monday.

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