Bette Leonard

Bette Jane (Bonsall) Leonard was born August 8, 1930, to Joseph and Hilda Karolina (Backlund) Bonsall in Indianola, Iowa. The family moved many times in Bette's younger years before settling in Dunlap, Iowa. Bette started her schooling in Dunlap, and then the family moved to Logan and Bette graduated from the Logan High School in 1948. Bette taught country school for one year south of Logan at the East Harris Grove Country School. On August 28, 1949, Bette married Kenneth Leonard at the Dunlap United Methodist Church. The couple farmed near Logan for 40 years. The couple moved into Logan in 1989.

Bette was a member of the Logan Christian Church and the Piecemakers Quilt Club from 1992-2013. She was a self taught carpenter, enjoyed having a big garden and then canning and freezing the garden produce. She enjoyed quilting and sewing and was a wonderful seamstress. She made most of her daughter's clothes, the doll clothes and she reupholstered and refinished many pieces of furniture. She loved music and was a wonderful piano player. Additionally, she enjoyed crossword and jumble word puzzles and taking walks. Bette and Anne walked together for many years.

Bette died on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine, Iowa at the age of 84 years, nine months, and 13 days.

Bette was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, John, Marion, Harold and Henry Bonsall; two sisters, Elvera Cooper and Elsie Nelson; and grand-daughter, Heidi Forsen. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Kenneth Leonard of Logan, Iowa; five children, Steve (Sharon) Leonard of Logan, Iowa, Judy (John) Forsen of Herman, Nebraska, Vicki (Randy) Koenig of Logan, Iowa, Anne (Tom) Stoner of Polk City, Iowa, Mike (Rhonda) Leonard of Logan, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter; sister-in-law, Pauline Bonsall of Dunlap, Iowa; and many other relatives and friends.

205 East 8th Street
Logan, IA