Leona M. (Nelson) Lent

Leona M. Lent, age 78, of Brooten, MN, died Saturday, September 4, 2021, at her residence in the care of her loving family and Glacial Ridge Hospice. A private family service will be held with burial in Grove Lake Cemetery in Grove Lake. 

Leona May Lent, the daughter of Bernard and Irene (Wyman) Nelsen, was born July 3, 1943 in Morris, Minnesota, along with her twin brother, LeRoy. She was raised in the Morris area where she attended school. The Nelsen family was very musical; as a child Leona learned to play the Hawaiian guitar and sing. Growing up she performed in a band with her family, playing at church every Sunday as well as at nursing homes, special events and even on the radio. She also played in church every Sunday when her kids were growing up, along with having her girls sing with her when they were teenagers. Many wonderful memories were made and music continued to bring Leona joy throughout her lifetime.

On July 29, 1961 Leona was united in marriage to Larry O. Lent at the Assembly of God church in Glenwood. This marriage was blessed with four children. The couple made their home on a farm in Grove Lake where Leona was tricked into farming. From raising cows to custom farming with harvest runs from Texas to North Dakota, Leona and Larry worked together. Along with raising her children and farming, Leona worked as a law enforcement dispatcher in Glenwood, assistant to the Clerk of Court in Pope County and did housekeeping.

Leona took pride in her musical talents and appearance; always taking time to practice her Hawaiian guitar, singing with her children at home, keeping her voice strong and her hair and makeup just right. Leona was diagnosed with cancer on June 6, 2020. She died at home in Brooten surrounded by her family on September 4, 2021. At the end she still looked her best; beautiful hair and dressed to the T.

Leona is survived by her two sons, Tim (Anita) Lent of Brooten and Larry, Jr. (Becky) Lent of Hutchinson; two daughters, Cindy (Steve) Rust of Elk River and Judy (Dale) MacIver of Rogers; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Wayne (Daria) Nelsen, Leona’s twin brother, LeRoy (Arda) Nelsen and Bernie (Mary) Nelsen; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Larry in 2011; and siblings: Jack, Dorothy “Dottie” and Deloris “Dee”.

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