Leola Fischer

After turning 100 on January 17, Leola (Lee) Fischer passed away into the waiting arms of Jesus on February 27, 2020 at the Green Pine Acres Nursing Home surrounded by her family. Lee was born in Little Falls, MN to George and Alta (Raphael) Patnaude. While still an infant, they moved to Richland County, ND where they spent the next twelve years. In 1932, they returned to the Little Falls area. Lee completed the eighth grade in Morrison County, graduated from Brainerd High School and later from St. Cloud University with a two-year degree in elementary education. Lee married Lester Harstad in 1941 in Sebeka, MN. They had one son, Carl. They resided in Orlando, FL for three years. Lee later worked for Boeing Aircraft in Renton, WA the last year of WWII, before returning to MN. In 1951, Lee married John Fischer of Sebeka in Sacramento, CA where she was teaching. They returned to MN to live on a farm in Rockwood Township. Three children were born of this union: Jerry, Jeanne and Ross. In addition to raising her children, she helped John with farming including raising cattle, sheep, pigs, Shetland ponies, and chickens. She always kept a large garden and lots of flowers. Lee returned to teaching full time in 1963 in the Sebeka School District. She also returned to college in 1965 earning a four-year degree from Bemidji State University. She taught third grade until retiring in 1982. When John retired in 1981, and son Jerry took over the farm, John and Lee began traveling, taking many fishing trips to northern MN and into Canada, two trips to Washington, D.C., a trip to Europe in 1983 and south in the winter to Arizona, Texas and Florida. John suffered a stroke in 1989 and passed away at the Green Pine Acres Nursing home in Menahga in 1994. In 1994, Lee visited Alaska and the following year Branson, Missouri, ending her travels. In 2006, Lee moved into an apartment in Sebeka and in 2010, moved to assisted living at Woodside Manor in Menahga. At 90, she handed in her car keys and sold her vehicle. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sebeka, the Ladies Advanced League, Sebeka Legion Auxiliary, Sebeka and Wadena Historical Societies and the local, state and national Education Association. She spent her later years reading, crocheting, working jigsaw puzzles, volunteering and watching the MN Twins and Vikings on TV. Lee was very proud of her family and enjoyed family get-togethers especially at “the lake”. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; two sons, Carl Harstad and Jerry Fischer; her four siblings, daughter-in-law, Sue, and granddaughter, Tanya. She is survived by her children Jeanne (Jeff) Hanson of Maple Grove, MN and son Ross Fischer (Sharon Lentsch) of Champlin and Walker, MN; daughter-in-law Deb Fischer of Walker, MN; four grandchildren, Jeff, Laura, Matt (Amanda) and Adam (Morgan); two step granddaughters; five great grandchildren and a step great-granddaughter, along with several nieces and nephews. A Prayer Service will be held at 4:45 PM with Visitation from 5-7 PM Monday, March 2, 2020 at Wevley Funeral Home in Sebeka, MN and continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Sebeka with Pastor Eric Clapp officiating. Interment will be Sebeka West Cemetery. Memorials preferred to Red River Valley Hospice, American Cancer Society or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Sebeka.