Leola E. Sweeney

Leola Elizabeth Sweeney was born to Leo and Perryetta (Lynch) Fuerstenberg in St. Kilian, Minnesota on May 30, 1935. She was baptized, received her First Holy Communion, and was confirmed all at St. Kilian Catholic Church. Leola attended St. Kilian Elementary School and high school at Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, Minnesota where she graduated in May 1953. Leola started working at Tri-State Insurance Company (now Continental Western) in Luverne, Minnesota in November 1953. She was employed as a Mill and Elevator Underwriter and then later as a Reinsurance Underwriter. On August 12, 1967, Leola was united in marriage to Michael Sweeney at St. Kilian Catholic Church. Two sons were born to this union, Shawn and Colin. Leola retired from Continental Western on January 2, 2000. On July 30, 2022 while surrounded by her beloved family, Leola peacefully passed away at the age of 87 years and 2 months.

Leola was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Leola attended Bible Study groups and participated in the Perpetual Adoration prayer schedule. She was involved with LCCW of St. Catherine, Bone Builders, Blue Mound Quilters, and Mah Jongg. She did many crafts such as crocheting, knitting, tatting, cross stitch, sewing, and quilting.

Leola is survived by her husband of 54+ years, Michael of Luverne; children, Shawn (fiance, Heather Andersen) Sweeney of Luverne and Colin Sweeney of Rockville, Maryland; three grandchildren, Caitria (Seth) Bjorkman of Luverne, Seanan Sweeney of Marshall, Minnesota, and Grace Sweeney of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two great-grandchildren, Alexander “Alex” Bjorkman and Finnegan “Finn” Bjorkman, both of Luverne; and three sisters, Shirley (Verilyn) Legler of Adrian, Minnesota, Jane (Glenn) Larsen of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and Carol (Jim) Volk of Madison Lake, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Perryetta Fuerstenberg; sister Marian Franklin; two infant brothers; and one infant half-sister.