Leona Mae (Abbott) Hawkins, born November 8, 1926, to Mark and Anna Abbott in Dover, Minn., grew up on farms in the Dover/St. Charles area. She attended country school and graduated from high school in 1944. She worked in numerous places in Rochester, including First National Bank, Rundell Lumber, W.T. Grants, Girl Scout Council, IBM, and St. Paul Companies. She played string bass in The Music Masters, an old time dance band, for five years and married Jim Thiede in 1947, ending in divorce. In 1959 she married David Richardson and moved to Chatfield, Minn., and this marriage also ended in divorce. She worked in Chatfield at Chosen Valley Elementary School and married William Hawkins in 1978, and lived in Pine Island and then returned to Chatfield. William passed away in November 2009.
Leona loved art, poetry, music, and dancing to old time. She enjoyed bowling, hunting, bingo, antiques, crafts, camping, golfing, gardening, crocheting, being a homemaker, spending time with her children and grandchildren, and watching the Twins. For many years she did both craft and antique shows. In later years she worked at the Chosen Valley Care Center and inspired many with her hard work and positive outlook. She had a smile for everyone and truly lived her motto, “Busy hands are happy hands.”
She is survived by three children: Steve Richardson of Chatfield, John Richardson (Brenda) of Zumbro Falls, and Jenny Richardson of Portland, Oreg.; eight grandchildren: Steven Paul Richardson (Katie) of Hastings, Minn., Christine Gonzalas of Spring, Tex., Erin Clemens (Matt) of Waconia, Minn., Nichol Smith (Brian) of Dallas, Tex., Dana Beer (Matt) of Preston, Minn., Brandon Richardson (Karissa) of Rochester, Minn., Alex Richardson of Zumbro Falls, Minn., and Ciana Wells of Portland, Oreg. In addition, Leona had 11 great-grandchildren, daughter-in-law Ann Onsgard, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband William, her parents, son Terry, daughter Ann Marie, and four brothers: Wallace (Irene), Marion, Gordon, and Lyle (Collete).
Funeral services and Celebration of Life will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chatfield, Minn., Saturday, July 15 at 11 a.m.
Visitation will be Friday, July 14 from 5-7 p.m. at Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield, Minn., and one hour before services on Saturday.
Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield is assisting the family with arrangements. To share a memory of Leona, please visit www.rileyfuneralhomes.com.