Viola Eleanor Leitner

Viola Eleanor Leitner, daughter of Emil and Emma (Bueing) Hawkins was born November 7,
1925 in Twin Valley, MN. After graduating from Twin Valley High School in 1943, she worked in
Minneapolis for a short time then moved to Seattle, Washington aiding the war effort. She met
John Leitner, a U.S. Navy sailor, there in 1944, and told a friend upon first sight of him, “I’m
going to marry that man”. After a handful of dates however, he left in 1944 to serve on a
battleship in the Pacific but on his return, they did in fact marry on January 29, 1946 in Sumner,
WA. After a short time in South Carolina, they moved to Fargo and in 1954, into a new home
where Viola continued to reside until her death.

Viola and John people of great faith, were charter, and life-long members of Hope Lutheran
Church since 1958. Viola worked for Lutheran Social Services for a number of years caring for
over 100 babies in their home. From 1975 through 1985 she worked as a Ward Clerk at St.
Luke’s Hospital Nursery in Fargo. Best friends, Viola and John modeled a great marriage for all
who knew them and were amazing grandparents. In retirement, they spent part of each winter
in Winnsboro, S.C. and much of the summer camping at Shell Lake in Minnesota. John died in
November of 2006.

Viola died Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Bethany Homes, Fargo.

She is survived by three sons; Robert (Becky), Chandler, AZ; James (Mary), Winnsboro, SC;
Joseph, Moorhead, MN; one daughter, Amy (Paul) Tronsgard, Fargo; eight grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters-in-law, Marge Hawkins, New Ulm,
MN; Ginny Leitner, Chapin, SC, and many nieces and nephews.

Viola was preceded in death by John, her parents, one sister and two brothers.

Memorials are preferred to Hope Lutheran Church or Community Living Services (CLS) of
Fargo.