07 Jun Leona Schonert

Leona M. Schonert, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 14, 2019. Leona was born December 5, 1927 to Edward and Hazel Morris.  Leona married Joe Schonert October 20, 1947, at St. Mary’s Church.  Together near Baldwin they farmed and raised their family.  After her husband passed away, Leona worked as a cook in the kitchen at the Capitol and later was the cook for the Wilton Senior Center for many years.  After retirement from the senior center, she worked at the Baldwin Greenhouse until her mid 80s. 

Throughout her years, Leona’s focus was always on spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and recently became a great-great grandmother.  Her love of horses was passed on to her children and she would spend any free time she had on the back of a horse even at the age of 80.  She especially loved going on family vacations trail riding in Medora, Badlands of South Dakota and Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, as well as trail riding with the Bismarck Horse Club.  Leona had a very green thumb and most of her life raised a beautiful garden that would supply food for her family throughout the year, along with plenty for the neighborhood.  Leona was also a beautiful seamstress and could sew anything you asked of her.  She could do any job that was put before her and worked very hard all her life.  Leona truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures, whether it was visiting with friends and family, 4-wheeling, or winning a hand at her favorite card game of pinochle.  Everyone who knew Leona appreciated her wit and sense of humor.

Leona leaves behind and will be greatly missed by her children, Jo (Howard), Marlene (Frank), Ed (Georgie) and Dan (Luanne); 11 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter, brother, David Morris, sister, Patricia Sabot and numerous nieces and nephews.Leona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joe, brothers: Harold, Howard, Ralph, Clarence and Pat, and sisters: Billy, Winnie, and Lucille.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the entire staff at the Terrace for the wonderful care they gave Leona.  Her words were, “if I can’t live at home I am in the next best place”.  Jo, Marlene and Ed would also like to give a special thanks to Dan and Luanne who were always there for Mom.

Services will be held at 11 am Monday, April 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with Monsignor Gene Lindemann officiating.  Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens Bismarck at 2 pm. Visitation will be from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Bismarck Funeral Home followed by a prayer and remembrance service at 7 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2019.