Leona Irma (Welke) Dahl

Leona Dahl

1929 – 2018

It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of Leona (Welke) Dahl on August 27, 2018 at the age of 88. She will be deeply missed by all.

Leona was born on November 22, 1929 to Robert and Elise (Rosin) Welke near Esk, Saskatchewan. In 1931 Miriam (Lepholtz) was born and then Milbert followed in 1937. The family moved to Manitoba in 1944....just one mile east of Benito. They farmed for two seasons season in 1946 moved several miles east of Swan River where they bought a farm and set down permanent roots.

Mom had a deep and abiding faith in God and submitted her life to Him early in her teens. She was always involved with church youth activities where she was often the life of the party. This is where she met and eventually married Dan Dahl on April 23, 1954.  In the earlier years, Mom worked at Scales Drug Store and later at the Swan River Hospital where she made many friends. Son Barry was born in 1956 and Cheryl came along in 1957.

Mom was always busy at something, rarely sitting down for a rest. She loved her vegetable garden and of course her flowers. By fall time the cellar room was always brimming full as were both large freezers. Mom was a wonderful cook. Mom loved the outdoors and many of our greatest memories were those fishing trips where mom frequently out fished us!

If caring for us kids and keeping our home in shape was not enough, Mom began to teach music lessons. She was self taught but had a special gift of encouraging kids, and adults, to learn and love music. Counting those bars out was a priority, as some of you will remember. Mom had a few students that were progressing quickly to higher levels and so wanted to be able to take them further in their studies. In 1971 and 1972 Mom embarked on a journey with the 'Royal Conservatory of Music' through the University of Toronto. I can remember many evenings when Mom sat at the table downstairs to study the music theory. Out of the three levels, she received 'First Class Honors' and 'Honors'. We were all so proud of her. Mom had endless patients and loved her students and I think they loved her too, even if they did not know it at the time, that the lessons learned would serve them well in life.

Music was always a part of Mom’s life especially at church. She played piano and organ for many years and also sang in the choir from age thirteen on. Mom served God in many ways through Temple Baptist Church; singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, her wonderful flannel graph stories, Women's Missionary Fellowship meetings and events, working alongside all the other women for those special pot luck suppers, much special music and of course Mom played organ each Sunday for many years.

Our heartfelt thanks to all the faithful staff of PCH and hospital who cared for Leona, those  of you who visited or sent flowers and those who upheld her in prayer.

An evening visitation was held on Sunday, September 2, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. from the Chapel of Swan Valley Funeral Services, Swan River, Manitoba. Interment was held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 3, 2018 in the Birchwood Cemetery with the memorial service following at 11:00 a.m. from Temple Baptist Church with Pastor Neal Effa officiating.

If friends so desire, donations in Leona's memory may be made to Gideon's Canada.

Swan Valley Funeral Services

363 Kelsey Trail Swan River, Manitoba

204-734-5775  swanvalleyfunerservices.com

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