Leona Boyer, 81, of Minot and formerly of Ross, Sherwood and the Benson county area passed away peacefully at Trinity Hospital on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, surrounded by her loving family following a short illness.

Leona Mae Rambel was born March 21, 1928 to Ole and Aninda (Mehus) Rambel near Ross ND. She was raised on the family farm with her 7 brothers and sisters and attended country school.

Leona married DJ "Bud" Holter of Sherwood ND on October 28, 1946 in Glasgow MT. They moved to Lostwood in 1949, where Bud became a grain buyer at the elevator. In the fall of 1951, they moved to Sherwood, where he was chief of police and operated a café. In the spring of 1954, they moved to the Benson County area where he was a grain buyer for GTA and Leona was his bookkeeper in Knox, Fillmore and Oberon. Bud and Leona shared a love of music and spent many hours playing accordion, guitar and other musical instruments as entertainment at home and at many area functions. They passed on their love of music to their children, Carol and Harold "Buck" who both enjoyed playing in the family band and making music with friends. Bud passed away September 14, 1973.

In 1974 Leona married Toney Tweten of Oberon and enjoyed 7 wonderful years as the wife of a farmer and rancher. She loved working with the cattle and horses as well as going on trail rides with Toney. Toney passed away in January 1982 and Leona moved to the Dakota Terrace Apartments in Minot in 1989. There she met Harold Boyer who soon became her constant companion. Leona and Harold were married on November 24, 1990 and began enjoying a very active and happy retirement. They enjoyed doing projects around the house, entertaining at home and traveling to visit family and friends. Leona also was thrilled to travel to Norway with her grandson in 1989 and stay with cousin, Svanhild on the family farm where Leona's dad was raised. Harold passed away March 5, 2006.

Leona was an energetic, talented and loving woman who experienced great happiness as well as sorrow, but maintained a strong faith and assurance that the good Lord would see her through it all. God bless her memory.

Leona is survived by her daughter Carol (Don) Steffan of Minot, sisters Alvina Engstrom of Leeds and Evie Fretheim of Bowman, brother Marvin Rambel of Minot, grandsons Rob Odden of Minot, Jeff (Alexis) Odden of Fargo and, Darren (LeAnn) Holter of Sandstone, MN; great granddaughters Kelsey Odden, Alexa Odden and Crystal Holter, stepson Greg (Carol) Boyer of Hazen, stepdaughters Becky (Garry) Burns and Faye (Clay) Burns both of Minot, stepdaughter-in-law Carol Tweten of Grand Forks, sister-in-law, Delores Knutson of Stanley, numerous nieces and nephews and the extended Tweten, Steffan and Boyer families who shared in her life.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Bud, Toney and Harold, granddaughter Christal Holter, son Harold "Buck" , sister Millie and brothers Albert, Melvin and Elmer, stepson: Alan Tweten, brothers-in-law: Allan Fretheim and Galen Engstrom.

Funeral Service: Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in Bethel Free Lutheran Church - Minot.
Interment: Hillside Cemetery - Oberon.
Visitation : Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral home- Minot.