Funeral services for Alberta M. (Leonhardi) Van Hal will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at Community Lutheran Church, in Geneva. The Rev. Dr. Kristen Venne will officiate. Visitation will be held from 12:30 until the time of the service at the church. Interment will take place at Hollandale Cemetery.
Alberta Margaret (Leonhardi) Van Hal, age 89 died peacefully on May 31, 2015.
She was born in Albert Lea on September 7, 1925 to Albert and Cora (Steele) Leonhardi of Alden. She was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church of Alden.Alberta Graduated from Alden High School and Minneapolis Business College. She worked at Wilsons in Albert Lea and Federated Mutual Insurance Co. of Owatonna.
Alberta married Walter Van Hal on September 20, 1953. They farmed together near Hollandale until 1979, when they moved to Geneva. During their 40 years together, they enjoyed woodworking, crafts, playing cards, snowmobiling, and traveling to all states in the union. They belonged to an RV camping club, where they spent most of their weekends.
They belonged to Redeemer Lutheran Church of Alden until 1982, when they transferred to Community Lutheran in Geneva. Alberta was active in CLC, Rebecca-Ruth Circle, ELCA Sarahs Bible Study Group, East Geneva Neighbors Club, and Friendly Campers Club. She continued participating in the RV Camping Club after Walter died in 1993, up until she was 85 years old. She planned and looked forward to friends stopping by for coffee and goodies, especially after church on Sunday mornings. She will be missed by friends and family.She is survived by her sister-in-law, Connie Leonhardi of Oak Harbor, WA; nephew, David (Susan) Leonhardi, Lindsay and Tanis of Seattle, WA; niece, Danette Leonhardi of Seattle, WA; sister and brother-in-laws, Wilford (Darlene) Van Hal of Geneva, Mathilda (Bob) Kraay of Owatonna; nephews, Dean (Shawn) Van Hal of Hollandale, David (Rita) Goodnature of Owatonna; Gary (Iris) Goodnature of Albert Lea; Jeffrey Kraay of Owatonna, Bud Braun of Lexington, KY, Barry (Shirley) Braun of Kasota, MN, Craig (Kathy) Braun of WA, and Terry Mulligan of Northfield; nieces, Beverly (Tom) Bartl of New Port, Judy (Michael) Morris of MPLS, Lori (David) Henry of Faribault, Lisa (Tom) Lammers of Owatonna and Vicki (Gary) Schmidt of Madison Lake; as well as many other great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Leonhardi in 1955, and Cora Leonhardi in 1982; husband, Walt Van Hal in 1993; brother, Roger Leonhardi in 2006; parents-in-law, Garret and Matilda Van Hal; sisters-in-law, Wilma (Daniel) Goodnature and Julia (Lloyd) Braun; nephews, Scott Braun, Gerald Goodnature, Bruce Van Hal and Mark Van Hal; and a niece, Mary Beth Goodnature-Mulligan.