Sylvia Alma Adena (Edinger) Leitner, 94, formerly of Minot ND had her final homecoming on May 20, 2016 at the Denton Regional Medical Center in Denton TX. She had been residing in Coppell TX for several months with her son, Wayne Leitner and daughter-in-law, Becky.

Sylvia was born in Max ND on May 17, 1922 to Jacob and Julia (Reichenberger) Edinger. She was the 8th of 11 children and attended grade school in Benedict, graduated from Minot High School in 1940 and Northwest Nazarene College in 1944. She served as a Rosie the Riveter during her college summers in Washington State.

Returning to ND after graduation, Sylvia married Eldon Leitner in 1951. They started their family while farming in Cathay. Sylvia taught elementary grades and art at several locations including Sheyenne, Sutton, Grandin, Beach and Carrington.

Sylvia loved her Lord and her neighbors showing it through a heart of generous hospitality. She enjoyed being with her extensive family, travelling, gardening, baking, playing piano/organ, sketching/painting, playing Scrabble and combing garage sales with family. In more recent years, Sylvia served in several capacities at Minot First Church of the Nazarene including Sunday School teacher, board member and organist.

Sylvia personified a LLL (Life Long Learner) studying German, practicing piano, exercising, gardening, travelling and celebrating her 94th birthday all in her final week.

Sylvia's loving family includes her son Larry and wife, Julie, Fargo ND and son Wayne and wife, Becky, Coppell TX, granddaughters Susan (John) Deutsch of Fargo, Jenna (Shane) Richardson, Lumberton NC, Erin (Michael) Allen, Fayetteville AR, Lindsey Leitner, Fargo and Morgan (Brent) Gotro, Providence Village TX, step-granddaughter Stephanie Miller, Ft Worth TX, and step-grandson Nicholas Miller, Charleston SC, nine great grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren, brothers Vernon (Darlene) Edinger, Turtle Lake ND, Arnold Edinger, Mandan ND and many nieces and nephews.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Eldon, eight brothers and sisters, Eldien Edinger, Elsie Berg, Frieda Fischer, Esther Bauer, Edna Duerre, Lilly Moseng, Clarence Edinger, and Lorraine Willoughby.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Minot First Church of the Nazarene.
Internment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot ND.
Visitation: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Sylvia's name for Haitian orphanages. Make checks payable to: C3 Global, Memo line: NEST Foundation, 2450 N. Hwy 121, Grapevine TX 76051.