Leonora Rosalind Fuhlendorf

Leonora Rosalind Fuhlendorf, 89, of Libby, died March 14, 2010 at the Libby Care Center.

She was born March 20, 1920 on a farm in Lake County, S.D., to Paul and Laura Eggebraaten.

Eunice Thorson of Puyallup, Wash., is her only surviving sibling. Her mother, father and the rest of her brothers and sisters preceded her in death.

After graduation from Nunda High School, she moved to California where she worked as a waitress in Palo Alto and met Gus Fuhlendorf. They married June 1, 1940 in Reno, Nev. The couple had three children – Sheryl, Russell and Laura. In 1954, they moved from Redwood City, Calif., to Libby where she lived until her death. The couple was married for 62 years at the time of her husband’s death.

The couple built a home on Bobtail Road where she kept busy with her garden. She enjoyed canning, baking, quilting, knitting, painting and playing the piano and accordion for her own enjoyment.

“She was always up for a game of pinochle or other card games with her friends,” family said. “Scrabble was her love and she won most of the games until just a few months ago when it was getting too hard for her to play.”

Mrs. Fuhlendorf’s home was open to all.

“Leonora loved to hide items in the woods by her home for the grandchildren to discover on their walks with her,” family said. “Company was always welcome no matter what time of day or night and they always left with a full stomach.”

She is survived by her children, Sheryl Vinson and her husband Dale; Russell Fuhlendorf and his wife Carol; and Laura Street – all of Libby; and grandchildren, Annette McNeill and her husband Willy; Jackie McKernan and her husband Mark; Flavia Lafont and her husband Ken; Ariana Vinson, Jerad Fuhlendorf, Gavin Fuhlendorf and Chad Street; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be Thursday, March 18 from 4-7 p.m. Services will be held Friday, March 19 at 2 p.m., at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Interment services will follow at the City of Libby Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the Libby Baptist Church, Libby Christian Church or charity of choice.