Ione Liebl, of Dawson, died Thursday, November 10, 2011, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson, at the age of 78.
Funeral mass was Monday, November 14, at 2:30 PM, at the St. James Catholic Church in Dawson with Father Brian Oestreich as celebrant; Sister Vivian as commentator; Jim Bothun as reader; Mike, Jordan and Donny Bothun as servers; Joyce Pearson accompanying Dean in singing "Softly and Tenderly" and "The King Is Coming" and organist, Joan Zaiser accompanying the singing of the music. Casketbearers were grandson: Darren, Josh, Rick, Ben, Matt, Greg, John and Dan. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation was at St. James Catholic Church on Sunday from 3:30-6 PM with a prayer service at 6 PM, followed by the Rosary.
Mildred Ione Olson was born on December 12, 1932, in rural Ten Mile Lake Township, Boyd, to parents Martin S. and Jennie (Nelson) Olson. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Boyd. She attended country school and graduated from Boyd High School in 1950. On January 25, 1955, she was united in marriage to Leonard A. Liebl at the St. James Catholic Church in Dawson. To this union six children were born. Ione was a hard-working, devoted farm wife and mother, and together with Leonard they farmed their entire married life in Lac qui Parle County.
She was a long-time member of the Providence/Maxwell Farmers Union and served as their secretary for many years. Through this organization she developed many friendships that she valued throughout her life. She was an active member of the St. James Catholic Church for 57 years, and served the church in various ways including as President of the Altar and Rosary Society. As a farm wife, she enjoyed cooking and baking and spent many hours in her kitchen preparing meals and lunches. Her homemade dumpling soup was always a family favorite. Much time was also spent canning and freezing the various items from her garden. Above all, she valued her large, loving family. Holidays and birthdays were always acknowledged and celebrated with lots of good food and laughter.
We have lost someone precious to us and a big part of our family, and we will miss her deeply. Ione passed away peacefully at Johnson Memorial Health Services, surrounded by her family on Thursday, November 10, after a courageous 12-year battle with leukemia. She had reached the age of 78 years, 10 months and 29 days.
She is survived by her husband, Leonard; children: Lisa (Jerry) Malecek of Dawson, Jeff (Janet) Liebl of Dawson, Paul Liebl and friend, Donna, of New Haven, Vermont, LuAnn (Don) Bothun of Dawson, Dale (Lori) Liebl of Montevideo and Kristi (Jon) Kvaal of Dawson; 27 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren; brothers: James (Evie) Olson of Seattle, WA, and Lloyd (Pearl) Olson of Spicer; sister, Marvel Miller of Dawson and sister-in-law, Rosann Olson of Bloomington; other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Sherman Olson, and brother-in-law Wilford Miller.