Rena Leverington

Rena Marie (Brush) Leverington was born August 22, 1921 at Ypsilanti, ND, to Irvin and Emma (Dahlstrom) Brush. When she was 8 months old the family moved to Carpenter, SD, by covered wagon. In the early 1930's they moved to a farm at Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.

Rena attended many different country schools in the area including Lake Margaret, Grant and Maple Grove and graduated from Pine River High School in 1941. While attending high school she worked at the Maple Leaf Store. In the fall of 1938 she met Glen at the school carnival. They were married by Aladdin lamplight on September 27, 1941, at her parents' home and had a wedding barn dance at the Ware's barn. They celebrated 71 years of marriage before Glen passed away in 2013. Rena passed away September 27, 2016, which would have been Glen and Rena's 75th wedding anniversary.

Glen and Rena purchased their current dairy farm west of Pine River in 1944. They were partners in farming where she milked cows, raked hay and did other farm chores. In 1957 they started a black angus herd.

Rena was a lifetime member of Maple Hill Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and VBS and was a member of the Maple Hill Ladies Aid. She also served as President of the Cass County Homemakers, volunteered at the Pine River Elementary School, was a Gray Lady at The Good Samaritan Home and a member of The Minnesota Cattlemen's Association Cow Belles.

Many changes have occurred over her lifetime including...treadle sewing machines, trading eggs for groceries, the wash board, electricity coming to the area, picking cucumbers for the Whiffelmeyer Pickle Factory, milking cows by hand and cooking for threshers. She loved to cook and bake. A couple of her favorites were cinnamon rolls and apple pie. Family gatherings were special times for her.

Rena is survived by three children: Gerald (Karen) Leverington, Carolyn (Duane) Blanck, Greg (Dana) Leverington; eight grandchildren: Karla (Rich) Guldseth, Daren (Michelle) Blanck, Dean (Debbie) Leverington, Danae (Jarrett) Anderson, Janell (Steve) Madison, Dawson Blanck, Jenny (James) Dalquist, and Kristy (Justin) Hughes and great grandchildren: Krista and Jordan Guldseth, Elijah and Sophia Blanck, Ashley Ebel and Wyatt and Morgan Leverington, Jace and Jude Anderson, Grant and Calvin Madison and Landon and Kylin Blanck. She is also survived by a sister, Carol Staimbrook, several cousins, nieces and nephews and Godchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen; parents, Irvin and Emma (Dahlstrom) Brush; two brothers, Georgie and Frances Brush; and many in-laws.

Services will be 2 PM on Thursday, October 6, at First Lutheran Church, Pine River. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 PM at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.