Leona Fehn Memorial

Leona Fehn

January 30, 1921 October 17, 2022

Centenarian Leona Ruby Oines Fehn, of Atlanta, Georgia, went to be with the Lord on October 17, 2022. The 101 year old died peacefully at Arbor Terrace in Decatur.

Leona was born in Sinai, South Dakota on January 30, 1921, to Svenning Edward A. “Sam” (1870-1941) and Caren “Carrie” Trygstad Oines (1878-1934). The youngest of 7 children (Sadie, Al, Clarence, Ruby, Herbert, and Leon), Leona was named for two late siblings, Leon and Ruby Oines. She grew up under the love and care of her parents and particularly her brothers, Al and Clarence. Her grandparents grew up in Norway and as adults founded the first settlements in South Dakota. She was confirmed in the First Lutheran Church of Brookings, SD and graduated from Brookings High School in 1939. She met her future groom while singing in the choir at First Lutheran Church. On July 8, 1943 she married the love of her life, Clyde Frederick Fehn, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Clyde’s career as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service led them to homes in Louisiana; San Juan, Puerto Rico; San Francisco; Jacksonville; Savannah; Oklahoma City, and primarily, Atlanta. Clyde was called to be with the Lord on June 9, 1982.

Leona was a determined woman. Her brother Herbert died when she was seven and her mother died when she was 13. She expanded her role at home to help her father and older brothers. A child of the Great Depression and its lessons of doing much with little, her Norwegian sensibility served her well. She loved her only child, Curt, well and was always eager for news about his family and her grandchildren’s families. Leona and Clyde loved square dancing and travel and were aficionados of the organ, especially Bach. She remained active in US Public Health Service family organizations. She continued to travel with good friends as a widow and loved playing Bridge with her friends. Leona volunteered her time generously, serving for decades in the office of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and in the Emory University Hospital Gift Shop.

Leona is survived by her son and daughter in law, Curtis Frederick Fehn and Mary Ruth McElroy “Ruth” Fehn, of Longmont, Colorado, her grandchildren, Courtney (Brandon) Ballagh of Boulder, Colorado and Christopher (Emily) Fehn of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and her great granddaughters, Elery Ballagh, Carys Ballagh, Lydia Ballagh, Evelyn Fehn, and Maisie Fehn.

Leona will live on in the hearts and memories of those who knew her. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in memory of Leona Fehn.

PRELUDE

GATHERING Standing

Welcome in the name of Jesus the Savior, who died and was raised to new life by the grace of God. We are gathered here to worship, to remember before God our sister, Leona Fehn, to give thanks for her life, to commend her to our merciful redeemer, and to comfort one another in our grief.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received from God. | Thanks be to God.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

ACCLAMATION

Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. | We glorify you.

Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. | We praise you.

Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. | We worship you.

To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. | Amen.

Beautiful Savior

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our sister, Leona. We thank you for giving her to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see that death has been swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may live in confidence and hope until, by your call, we are gathered to our heavenly home in the company of all your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.

Seated

REFLECTION

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 23 (read responsively)

Curt Fehn, son

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

For Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Courtney Ballagh, granddaughter

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God

Romans 8:37-39

Chris Fehn

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Word of God, Word of Life | Thanks be to God

Standing

THE HOLY GOSPEL John 14:1 7

The Gospel according to St. John, the fourteenth chapter | Glory to you, O Lord

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

The Gospel of the Lord | Thanks be to God Seated HOMILY Pastor Mark H. Larson Standing

APOSTLES' CREED

God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Kneeling or Seated

PRAYERS

Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus, full of compassion, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Leona and dry the tears of those who weep. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

Jesus, man of sorrows, you wept at the grave of Lazarus your friend; comfort us who mourn. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

Jesus, firstborn of the new creation, you raised the dead; give to our sister Leona life eternal. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

Jesus, friend of sinners, you promised paradise to the repentant thief; bring Leona to the joys of heaven. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

Jesus, wellspring of life, you washed our sister in baptism and anointed her with the Holy Spirit; give her communion with all your saints. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

Jesus, bread of life, you nourished Leona at your table on earth; Welcome her at your table in the realm of heaven. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

Jesus, bright morning star, comfort us in our sorrows at the death of Leona: let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope. In your mercy, | hear our prayer.

God of all grace, we give you thanks because by his death our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Make us certain that because he lives we shall live also, and that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come shall be able to separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen.

Standing PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you.

Please share a sign of blessing with your fellow worshipers in whatever way is comfortable for you.

Standing GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

You are holy, O God of majesty, and holy is your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. He lived as one of us, and knew our joy, our pain and sorrow, and our death.

By his death on the cross you revealed that your love has no limit. By raising him from death you conquered the last enemy, crushed all evil powers, and gave new life to the world.

In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and wine and joyfully celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit unite us with the living Christ and with all who are baptized in his name.

Remember our sister Leona, whose baptism is now complete in death. Bring her into your eternal joy and light, together with all who have died in the peace of Christ; through whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty God, now and forever. | Amen. Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray…

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

The risen Christ dwells with us here. All who are hungry, all who are thirsty, come.

Seated

HYMN DURING COMMUNION HYMN 793 Be Thou My Vision

Standing POST COMMUNION PRAYER

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen

Let us pray. | Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction and a pledge of our inheritance of life eternal where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen.

COMMENDATION

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Leona.

Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. | Amen.

HYMN 504

A Mighty Fortress

DISMISSAL

Let us go forth in peace. | In the name of Christ. Amen.

POSTLUDE

Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #21979.

Officiants: Pastors Mark H. Larson and Jenny McLellan

Organist: Sarah Hawbecker

Luncheon reception to follow service, all are welcome to join the family in the Sims Atrium.

Following lunch, the graveside service will take place at Floral Hills Cemetery, Tucker, GA