Lellia Leising

Dec. 11, 1902-Aug. 7, 2004

ARAPAHOE -- Lellia Leising, 101, died Saturday (Aug. 7, 2004) in Arapahoe.

She was born Dec. 11, 1902, in a blinding snowstorm five miles south of Holbrook to August and Sophia (Droste) Warner. She attended school in District No. 75 in Furnas County for eight years and attended high school in Holbrook where she graduated as salutatorian in 1922. She then began a teaching career that spanned 31 years.

On June 7, 1927, she married Carl Leising. They made their home together on a farm northwest of Lexington. In 1935, they moved to a farm two miles east of Edison, just before the big Republican River flood. She continued teaching until the birth of the couple's first child, resuming her teaching career in 1944 at the New Era School District No. 14. In 1946 she accepted a position with the Oxford Public Schools, teaching fourth grade. She worked there until 1963 when she accepted a position with the Arapahoe Public Schools, again teaching fourth grade. She also received her college degree in education in 1963 from Kearney State Teacher's College, after furthering her education during summer school.

In 1965 the couple moved to Arapahoe. Carl preceded her in death in 1969. She continued teaching until 1972 and lived in her own home until 2001, when she moved into the Good Samaritan Care Center.

She was a baptized and confirmed member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe, and a member of the Trinity Women's League, Auxiliary Unit No. 96 in Arapahoe and the retired teacher's association.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carl; and four brothers, Floyd, George, Walter and Oscar.

Survivors include her sons, Donald and wife, Marlene Leising of Lincoln and Carl and wife, Alberta Leising of Edison; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe with the Rev. Carl Lilienkamp officiating. Interment will be at the Arapahoe Cemetery.

Visitation is will be immediately preceding the services at the church.

A memorial has been established for the Lutheran Hour.

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of arrangements.