Leila Lehmann

March 25, 1928-Dec. 22, 2024

Rugby

Leila Sanderson Lehmann, 96, passed away December 22, 2024, at the St. Aloisius Long Term Care Facility. Leila Grace Larson was born in Willow City, North Dakota on March 25, 1928, the daughter of Clarence F. and Esther Henrietta (Pick) Larson.

Leila grew up on the family farms near Overly, North Dakota and graduated from Overly High School in 1946. She became a registered nurse, graduating in 1949 from the Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing, Rugby, North Dakota. On September 24, 1950, she married Donald L. Sanderson in Overly, North Dakota. While Donald served in the U. S. Army, Leila accompanied him and worked as a nurse. They returned to North Dakota after his discharge and began farming the parental Clarence L. Sanderson farm near Willow City. Leila worked at the Rugby Hospital. In 1961, she began working at the Willow City Clinic and returned to work at the Rugby Hospital in 1968. The family moved to Rugby in 1970, but continued to farm and spend summers in Willow City until 1980. In 1971, Leila was offered the position of director and became a licensed administrator for the Haaland Home in Rugby. She eventually returned to work in surgery at the Rugby Hospital, retiring in 1988.

Leila was a member of First Lutheran Church in Rugby. She served on Church Council, taught Sunday School, and was a member of the Choir and Quilting Groups. She remained active in a Bible Study Group, Ladies Circle, and Prayer Chain until her final days. She was also a member of Rugby’s American Legion Auxiliary, and the Good Samaritan Hospital Nurses Alumni Association. A typical Saturday morning would find Leila baking fresh bread, doing laundry, listening to opera and classical music. In retirement, she learned to play the accordion and violin, and was especially delighted to be a member of the orchestra in Rugby. She also participated in several theatrical productions of the Village Arts group in Rugby. Leila enjoyed traveling, as well as a history buff, as she read or watched documentaries covering a wide variety of historical places, events, and important figures. Her sewing machine and knitting needles were never far from her side, and she used her talents to sew and mend clothes, decorative items, and quilts for family members, mission donations, long term care patients, veterans groups, and charity benefits.

Donald passed away in 1980, shortly before their 30th wedding anniversary. Leila was married to Edward C. Lehmann, Jr. from 1994-1997 and was a companion and caregiver to Gerald O. Sanderson from 2000 until his death in 2018. Leila moved to the Haaland Manor apartments in August 2018, Haaland Estates in April of 2022, and eventually to St. Aloisius that year.

Leila is survived by her four children: Diane (Kurtwood) Hillman, Durango, CO; Ellen (Philip) Kotrba, Warren, MN; Dale (Laurie) Sanderson, Maple Grove, MN, and David (Sandra) Sanderson, The Woodlands, TX. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Margit Larson of Bowie, MD, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Maurice J. Larson, an infant brother, husbands and companion, and grandson Ryan S. Hillman.

Funeral Services will be held on May 24, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Rugby at 11:00 a.m., with a Reflection one-hour before. Burial at the Willow City Memorial Park Cemetery, Willow, City at 2:45 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the following organizations: Heart of America Concert Series, 1123 S Main Ave., Rugby, ND. 58368; Heart of America Library, 201 3rd St. SW, Rugby, ND 58368 or Willow City Memorial Park Cemetery, c/o North Star Community Credit Union, 386 Main Street, Willow City, ND 58384.

Arrangements with the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby. Online registry: www.funeralsbyanderson.com

Published by The Pierce County Tribune, January 4, 2025.