Leona Hopfner, 90

Leona Caroline Hopfner, age 90, died Wednesday, November 10, 2010.

Leona was born November 7, 1920 in Alexandria to Anna (Peffer) and Carl Wilken. She grew up in Millerville.

On October 10, 1941 Leona married Wilbur Hopfner at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Paul. They made their home in St. Paul for a short time before moving to Brandon in 1944. They were blessed with two children, Judy and Doug. Leona and Wilbur became longtime residents of Brandon and loved living there.

Leona was an amazing gardener. She was known for her beautiful flowers every summer. She was a wonderful baker and her family and friends especially loved her lemon bars and her dumplings. Leona enjoyed reading about current events and watching sports. She was a woman of strong faith and often arrived at church early with Wilbur to pray the rosary. She had a wonderful sense of humor. Leona loved to laugh with Wilbur and he loved to entertain her and make her laugh. She enjoyed listening to Wilbur’s band and liked to dance the waltz and polka. Leona was proud of her family and always liked visiting with her children and grandchildren. She was deeply loved and will be missed greatly.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Gerald Wilken; and four sisters, Marcella Wilken, Florence Anderson, Margaret Augustson and Elmyra Olsen.

Leona is survived by her husband, Wilbur; daughter, Judy Hilgren and husband, Wally, of Bloomington; son, Doug Hopfner and wife, Susan, of Edina; five grandchildren, Jolie Hockert and husband, Jeff, Kristi Neal and husband, Jim, Andrea Hilgren, and Katie and Matthew Hopfner; two great-grandchildren, Hayden and Kaya Neal; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Ethan and Logan Hockert; two brothers, Charles Wilken and wife, LaVerle, of Moundsview, and Don Wilken of Brandon; and two sisters, Beatrice Perkins of Van Alstyne, TX and Adeline Brozek of Muskegon, MI.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, November 13 at the Church of St. Ann in Brandon. The Rev. Father Arlie Sowada was the celebrant. Music was provided by Evelyn Lanners. Interment followed at the church cemetery. Casket bearers were Jolie and Jeff Hockert, Kristi and Jim Neal, Andrea Hilgren and Katie and Matthew Hopfner.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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