Date of Birth:
Saturday, February 18, 1928
Date of Death:
Monday, November 13, 2023
Age:
95 years old

Leone M. Trygstad

Leone Mary Trygstad, age 95, of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2023, surrounded by family at Saint Mary’s Hospital from injuries related to a recent fall.  Leone was born on February 18, 1928, in Goodhue County on a farm west of Pine Island to Hilda Ashler (Lehnherr) and Herold Ashler.  She lived in the Roscoe-Berne area until graduation from Wanamingo High School in 1945.  Leone learned at a young age to do farm work:  put up hay, shock corn and oats, graze cattle, and milk cows by hand until 12 years old.  The most fun was having three horses to ride and do field work with.  Leone went to a country school for six years, and her mother was her first-grade teacher.  In 1945 they moved to Rochester, and she worked at the Mayo Clinic as a laboratory technician in the Chemistry Department until 1958.  On June 14, 1947, at the Berne church, Leone married the love of her life, John Burton Trygstad, whom she met at the Play-Mor Ballroom. Their marriage endured for 66 years until John’s passing in 2013.

Leone continued to work at the Mayo Clinic until 1958, and she graduated from the Rochester Vocational school for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1970.  Leone practiced as an LPN for 15 years and retired in 1986.  Leone and her husband, John, purchased a farm near Rock Dell and lived there until 2013 when Leone moved to the Fairway Ridge Coop in Rochester, MN.

Family life was great raising five children, riding horses, vacationing in northern Minnesota each summer.  Leone was a lifelong member of the Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester where she made sure all her children attended Sunday school and confirmation.  Later in life, Leone volunteered each Sunday as a greeter, usher, or assisting with communion.  Every Sunday was a special day to spend at church.

Leone loved her family, and it showed every day.  She enjoyed golfing and achieved an eagle on hole number 8 (a par 5) at the Willow Creek Golf Course.  Leone was an avid bowler, seamstress, fisherwoman, pheasant hunter, horsewoman, a polio survivor, and a winter traveler in the motorhome.  Leone possessed an abundance of strength, elegance, smiles, hugs to all, and loved playing Rummikub, Sequence, 500, 500 Rummy, Bingo, and slot machines.  Leone was tough to beat at these games right up to the time of her death. Leone loved to dance! She was a fabulous cook, and her lasagna and salsa recipes live on with the family.  Leone loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends.  Family and friends were everything to Leone!

Leone is survived by two daughters, Sheri (Gary) Trygstad Urban of Lake City and Sally (Gary) Rud of Byron; two sons, David (Julie) Trygstad of Rochester and Doug (Sandy) Trygstad of Largo, Florida; and son-in-law Tom Warne of Eyota. Leone has 13 grandchildren:  Nathan, Noah, Jeffrey, Sarah, Matt, Aaron, Nicole, Gary W., Emily, Heather, Holly, Heath, Hunter, and 15 great grandchildren:  Sophie, Liliana, Olivia, Kayla, Ethan, Lauren, Kian, Kaden, Zachary, Geneva, Harper, Finley, Oona, Leo, and Ripley.

Leone is survived by two special friends, Diana Chambers and Claudia Finseth, and her Friends at Fairway Ridge Coop in Rochester, Minnesota.

Leone was preceded in death by her mother, Hilda Ashler; husband, John Burton Trygstad; brother, Dr. Fred Ashler of Hamburg, Iowa; daughter, Diana Warne of Eyota; and daughter-in-law, Marlys Trygstad.

Thank you to Dr. Horn, a Mayo physician, and staff at Season’s Hospice for their care and adding happiness and joy to Leone’s life.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 20, 2023, at Zumbro Lutheran Church with Rev. Tim Rotman officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in East St Olaf Cemetery.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.