Leona Hejlik

Leona M. “Billie” Hejlik, 85, Fargo, ND, and formerly of Grand Forks, ND, died Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Bethany on University Dr., in Fargo where she has resided for the past year.

Leona Mae Diemert, the daughter of Oscar and Edna Diemert was born on September 15, 1934 at Walhalla, ND.  She was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church at Walhalla.  Leona attended Walhalla Public Schools where she made many friends who she stayed in contact with throughout her lifetime.

She married Eman H. Hejlik in 1954 and they were married for 48 years.

Leona is survived by her daughters, Patricia Peterson and Lori Hovdestad (Anthony);  7 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren;  a sister, Pete (Arvid) Anderson, many nieces and nephews.  Leona was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Edna Diemert;  her husband, Eman;  her son, Michael;  infant daughter, Kathy; a brother Robert Gariepy;  sisters, Eileen Gariepy and Shirley Maides.

There were always friends and relatives at the house on weekends and she kept everyone well fed.  She loved to garden and her yard and flowers were always beautiful.  When Leona and Eman retired, they did a lot of traveling.  Her favorite trip was to Banff and Jasper parks in Canada.  Leona was an excellent painter and made many beautiful things and many keepsakes.  She also passed down her skills of lefse making and kolache making to her daughters who have since passed their skills along to their children.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2019  in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 S. 42^nd St., Grand Forks.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the funeral home.

Interment will be in Memorial Park North Cemetery at a later date.