Leona Schafer

A Funeral Service for Leona Schafer, 92, of Baker, will be 11:00 a. m. , Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at American Lutheran Church in Baker with Pastor Bruce Kolasch officiating. Burial will follow in Bonnievale Cemetery. Visitation for Leona will be 3:00 p. m. to 7:00 p. m. , Monday, August 19th at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with Family Receiving Friends from 5:30 p. m. to 7:00 p. m. Leona passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at the Peace Hospice House in Great Falls, Montana. Leona Susanna Scheuffele Schafer was born August 1, 1921 at Long Lake, SD, the daughter of John and Bertha (Scheid) Scheuffele. She went to country school in Dakota until 1928, when the family moved to Montana. They lived on Ed Ehret’s place for a couple of years and went to the Ehret School. After her folks bought the Joe Riley place, she went to the Riley and Dryfork schools through the seventh grade. From then on she went to Plevna school, graduating in 1941. Leona married Ted Bechtold on September 28, 1941. The couple lived in various places in Fallon County. They purchased the Nosfker place and built it up on the 101 road. To this union, seven children were born. Leona worked at the Baker Public Library for a year and was on the Library board. She was also on the church council for many years and taught Sunday school. Leona shared her time and talents doing volunteer work. She was a member of the ALC and ALCW all of her life and a 40 year member of the Legion Auxiliary. Leona was also a pinkie and worked in the Pink Touch Gift Shop for many years. Leona was married to Wayne Traweek from 1970-1977, and later married John Schafer in 1984. John passed away in 1992. Leona enjoyed reading, word searches, playing games and pulling pranks. She was also a great cook and was known for her kuchen. She enjoyed being busy and staying active, always being faithful to her exercising until she entered the hospital. Leona is survived by her 7 children, Saundra Iverson of Great Falls, MT, James (Marlene) Bechtold of Spearfish, SD, Vicki (Rick) Chapman of Helena, MT, Sherri (Rick) Bandy of Great Falls, MT, Terry Bechtold of Billings, MT, and twins, Edward (Babette) Bechtold of Renton, WA and John Bechtold of Vancouver, WA; 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Elsie Fritz of Spokane, WA; and two sister-in-laws, Doris and Lucille Scheuffele. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Ted Bechtold (1968) and John Schafer (1992); three brothers, Edmund, Gustow and Alfred Scheuffele; three sisters, Viola Scheuffele, Annie Nosfker, and Annette Lundgren. Memorials may be sent to: American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: August 20, 2013
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday: American Lutheran Church, Baker, MT