Leona Kallias

Leona Kallias, 79,

Minot, ND, Thursday,

May 16, 2019 at Trinity

Hospital.

Leona Mae Groninger

was born, the youngest of

seven children of William

and Helen (Davis) Gron-

inger on November 5,

1939. She was born in

Minot and raised on the

family farm/ranch west of

town with three brothers

and three sisters. Leona

graduated from Model

High School.

She met and married

Leo Duane Kallias and

from this union they ad-

ded Helen, Leon, Carol,

Mitch and Patty. Leo and

Leona moved around

looking for the right place

to milk cows and try a life

style of farm living. The

dream came to an end in

January of 1975 when a

blizzard put a hurt on the

operation. Leona had

enough and “told” Leo,

“We are moving to town.”

The Kallias’ bought a

mobile home and a lot in

Berthold. The city life be-

gan in July of that year.

Leona was gifted in

many ways, from being a

well-rounded worker to

teaching herself to play

piano and guitar. She had

a great knowledge of life

and politics and wasn’t

afraid to let you know it.

Her infamous one liner of

“here’s the deal” usually

meant she was going to

tell you her opinion and

basically yours didn’t

matter. You knew where

she stood!

Leona lived a full life,

traveling with her grand-

daughter Brooke Marie

and crossing the country

visiting family from coast

to coast.

She is survived by: all

five of her children,

Helen, San Antonio, Leon

(Peggy), Des Lacs, Carol,

Grand Forks, Mitchell

(Bonnie), Minot, and Pat-

ty, Grand Forks; brother,

Eugene (Isabel) Groninger,

Douglas; sister, Dorothy

(Vern) Isaacson, Washing-ton; a countless number

of grandchildren and

great-grandchildren.

Leona was preceded in

death by: her husband,

Leo; her mother, Helen;

her father, William; step-

mother, Mabel (Rice);

brothers, William Ken-

neth and Arnold; sisters,

Joanie (Roy) Tofstad and

Mary (Ed) Rodgers and

grandchildren Phillip,

Brooke and Corbin.

Memorial Service: Sun-

day, May 19, 2019, 1:00

p.m. at Thompson-Larson

Funeral Home, Minot

Visitation: There will be

no reviewal, however,

friends may sign a guest

book one hour prior to the

service at the funeral

home.

Burial: A private family

committal service will

take place. Leona is at

peace with all of her loved

ones, including a number

of extended family with

in-laws and grandchil-

dren. Her journey is com-

plete.

The Kallias family

wishes to thank you for

all the prayers and com-

fort shown. Leona would

be proud.

(Thompson-Larson Fun-

eral Home, Minot)