Leora Marion "Lee" Trontvedt, 85, of Crookston, MN, died Friday, December 30, 2011, in the RiverView Care Center in Crookston. Lee was born on June 30, 1926 at Winger, MN; the third of ten children of the union of Tilmar and Bertelle (Olson) Stai. She grew up near Winger; attended Wood Park #186 grade school; and her freshman year of high school in McIntosh. She went on to receive her high school diploma in 1960 from the Correspondence School of the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo. In 1961 Lee earned her LPN degree from Crookston's Bethesda School of Nursing. She later graduated from Corbett College in Crookston in 1969, and received her Bachelor's Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Elementary and Special Education, from the University of North Dakota, in Grand Forks, in 1971.She also earned a Learning Disabilities Certificate from Moorhead (MN)State College. During her working career Lee was employed at the Northwestern Clinic in Crookston for five years and Bethesda Hospital for a year. For twenty-three years she taught in the Crookston Public School system, and also served as a school bus driver, until her retirement in 1995. She was united in marriage to Otis A. Rindahl in 1945, and later to Ervin Trontvedt in 1962. Lee was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Crookston; the Golden Link Senior Citizens Center; and enjoyed making "Comfort Bears" for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). In September of 1994 she was honored as Crookston's' Experienced American' by the Crookston Park and Recreation Department. Loving family members include her 4 children: Sandra L. (Warren) Juengel of Sanford, MI, Constance G. Copeland of Houston, TX, Michael D. (Robin) Rindahl of Phoenix, AZ and Daniel E. Trontvedt of Grand Forks, ND; a sister, Shirley (Hiram) Jennings of Discovery Bay, CA; a brother-in-law, Ralph Shauger of Sun City, AZ; 4 grandchildren, who lovingly knew her as "Grandma Lee": Todd (Karie) Juengel of Fremont, MI, Kathryn Gainforth of Sebewaing, MI, Erin (Chad) Floyd of Lewisville, TX and Lexi Rindahl (Hugo Aleman) of Amarillo, TX; and10 great-grandchildren, who remember her with great affection as "GG": Alicia, Micah and Haley Juengel, Nicole and Sydney Gainforth, Blake, Skylar, Samantha and Madison Floyd, and Dorian Aleman. She also leaves 2 step-grandchildren: Brandie and Brian Hoelzle; 4 step great-grandchildren: Jason Floyd, and Trinity, Emma and Shyrah Hoelzle; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Lee was preceded in death by her parents, Tilmar and Bertelle Stai; a daughter, 12 year-old Kathleen Joyce Rindahl; 5 sisters: Arlene Stai, Lorraine Anderson, Verna "Bunny" Kirkpatrick, June Shauger and Carol Winter; and 3 brothers: Raymond, Donald and Cornell "Dick" Stai. May God bless Lee's memory. A memorial service celebrating the life of Leora Marion "Lee" Trontvedt will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN at a later date. Inurnment will be in the Little Norway Cemetery, rural Fertile, MN. The Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, MN, is assisting with funeral arrangements. Lee had an intense belief in the importance of education. Therefore a scholarship is being established in her name at Crookston's Central High School. Memorials may be given in Lee's name to Central High School, Attn: Supt. Wayne Gilman, 402 Fisher Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716, or St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1214 University Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716. Her online register may be signed at www.stenshoelhouske.com
Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716
Previous Events
cemetery
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Little Norway Cemetery
Rural Fertile, MN
Service
Saturday, January 1, 2011
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Euclid, MN