Leona I (Wetzel) Schields

Leona Schields, 88, of Dodge, North Dakota passed away Saturday, June 22, 2019. Services will be held at 2:00 PM CDT on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dodge. Burial will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, north of Dodge.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Leona was born on July 2, 1930 in Tuttle, ND to Johann and Rosina (Heitz) Wetzel. She was raised on a farm south of Tuttle and graduated with the class of 1948. Leona chose to attend Valley City State College, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She later returned to Valley City State College to obtain a reading credential.

Leona began her career in education at Ashley, ND and later moved to Beulah to continue teaching. She also taught in Halliday until her retirement in 2000. Upon retirement, Leona enjoyed substitute teaching in Twin Buttes, ND.

Throughout Leona’s teaching career she actively participated in the Halliday Education Association and the North Dakota Education Association. She was also a member of the Missouri River Basin Retired Teachers Association, where she received the Silver Apple Award.

Leona was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where she also taught Sunday School, Bible School and was active in WMF. She also served on the St. Paul Cemetery Board for many years. Leona was on the board of Billings, Dunn, and Golden Valley counties Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the Golden Valley Farmers Union Board for many years. Leona was also a 4-H leader.

While teaching in Beulah, Leona met and married Richard Schields on New Year’s Day 1956. Together they raised their children, Vickie Marie, Jonathan Ted, and Scott Richard.

Leona is survived by her sister, Rosine (Donald, deceased); her brother-in-law, Ted (Charlotte) Schields; and her sister-in-law, Eleanor (Clifford, deceased) Akidakis.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; and her siblings, Oscar, Amelia (Dutch) Munger, Erna, Theodore (Vera), Edwin (Annie), Emma, and Ida (Walter) Rott.

She was also preceded by her sisters-in-law, Tillie (Albin) Sandau, Edna (Ernest) Raber, Hertha Schields, Hilda (Leo) Miller, Irene (Dennis) Brandtner; and one brother-in-law, Ray Schields.

Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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