Althea Leland, 86, of Sparta and formerly of Norwalk passed to her eternal rest Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at MaryCrest apartments in Sparta.
She was born Aug. 28, 1923, in the town of Wellington, rural Monroe County, to Pastor Paul and Lydia (Scheitel) Monhardt. She was baptized, confirmed and married by her father at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Ridge. She was united for 58 years in marriage to Orvis Leland on July 2, 1946. After 34 years of teaching in Monroe County Schools, she retired in 1988. She and Orvis lived on the family farm in Spring Valley until 1995 when they moved to Sparta. She was a member of St. Jacob’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norwalk.
Althea is survived by two daughters, Diana Jean of Minneapolis and Michelle (Alan) Philibeck of DePere, WI; three sons, James (Nanette) of Fremont, Wis., Jerome (Christine) of Norwalk and Terry (Joan) of West Salem, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Kari Leis, Staci (Jeremy Suhr), Ryan, Sarah and Marcus Leland, and Adam, Andrew, and Evan Philibeck; two great-granddaughters, Kaylee and Shelby; one sister, Clarice (Lisle) Piper of Whitewater, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Elna Arndt of Wilton and Joyce Pederson of St. Louis, Mo.; and many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Orvis, in 2004; her parents, Paul and Lydia Monhardt; and one sister, Mildred Jessie.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 — Althea’s birthday — at St. Jacob’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norwalk. Pastor Matthew Minzlaff will officiate. Visitation will be at the church from 12 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow in Wanderer’s Rest Cemetery. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. The Torkelson Page–Smith Funeral Home of Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
