Linda Marie Leising

Friday, October 11, 2002

Linda Marie Leising

ARAPAHOE -- Linda Marie Leising, 54, of Stillwater, Okla., died Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2002) at the Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater.

She was born July 27, 1948, at Smith Center, Kan., to William A. and Bessie E. (John) Garretson. She attended Jackson and Reamsville country schools and Smith Center High School. In 1970, she received her degree in Music Education from Kearney State College.

On Aug. 9, 1970, she married James G. Leising in Franklin, and taught vocal music there for two years. They lived in Ames, Iowa from 1972-76. They moved to Davis, Calif., where she worked in the main library at the University of California, Davis. In 1995, they moved to Stillwater where she was employed at the Edmond Lowe Library and later as Library Specialist for Oklahoma Department of Career and Technical Education.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women's Missionary League and the church choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Shirley May Willis.

Survivors include her husband, James G. Leising of Stillwater; two daughters, Laura and husband, Cory Parnell of Gilbert, Ariz., and Andrea and husband, Bill Bitunjac of Minneapolis, Minn.; five brothers, William Garretson of Smith Center, Stanley Garretson of McCook, James "Fritz" Garretson of Shelley, Idaho, Roger Garretson of Soda Springs, Idaho and L. Brent Garretson of Woodland Park, Colo.; and five sisters, Betty Webster of Colorado, Harriett Rounsley of Washington, Virginia McBath of Idaho, Margaret Garretson of Arizona and Marcia Heinrich of Alaska.

Funeral services will be Monday, 10:30 a.m., at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe with the Rev. Carl Lilienkamp and the Rev. Carlton Riemer officiating. Interment will be in the Arapahoe Cemetery. A memorial service will be Thursday, 4 p.m., at the Zion Lutheran Church in Stillwater.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Zion Lutheran Church Building Fund, Lutheran World Relief-Project Hope, The American Cancer Society or Judith Karman Hospice.

Williamson-Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe is in charge of arrangements.