Leola Elizabeth Sweeney, 87, Luverne, died peacefully on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne surrounded by her family.
A funeral service was Wednesday, Aug. 3, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne with burial following at St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery.
Leola Fuerstenberg was born to Leo and Perryetta (Lynch) Fuerstenberg in St. Kilian, Minnesota, on May 30, 1935. She was baptized, received her First Holy Communion, and was confirmed, all at St. Kilian Catholic Church. Leola attended St. Kilian Elementary School and high school at Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, where she graduated in May 1953.
Leola started working at Tri-State Insurance Company (now Continental Western) in Luverne in November 1953. She was employed as a mill and elevator underwriter and then later as a reinsurance underwriter.
On Aug. 12, 1967, Leola married Michael Sweeney at St. Kilian Catholic Church. Leola retired from Continental Western on Jan. 2, 2000.
Leola was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. She attended Bible Study groups and participated in the Perpetual Adoration prayer schedule. She was involved with LCCW of St. Catherine, Bone Builders, Blue Mound Quilters, and Mah Jongg. She did many crafts such as crocheting, knitting, tatting, cross stitch, sewing, and quilting.
Leola is survived by her husband, Michael, of Luverne; children Shawn Sweeney (fiancée Heather Andersen) of Luverne, and Colin Sweeney of Rockville, Maryland; three grandchildren, Caitria (Seth) Bjorkman of Luverne, Seanan Sweeney of Marshall, and Grace Sweeney of Minneapolis; two great-grandchildren, Alexander Bjorkman and Finnegan Bjorkman, both of Luverne; and three sisters, Shirley (Verilyn) Legler of Adrian, Jane (Glenn) Larsen of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and Carol (Jim) Volk of Madison Lake.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marian Franklin; two infant brothers; and one infant half-sister.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com
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