Leona Minnie Kienitz "Toots"

MALTA/SACO-Leona Minnie Kienitz "Toots", 97 went home to be with the Lord on October 2, 2014 at the Grandview in Great Falls with her family by her side.

The family will receive friends at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 at the Kirkwood Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, October 9 at the Malta Lutheran Church. Interment will be after the reception at the church, in the Grandview Cemetery in Saco at 2 p.m. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Leona was born on June 24, 1917 to Otto and Lizzie (Prechel) Kienitz, Valleytown, Montana homesteaders. She spent most of her life with her family in Montana with the exception of a 15 year period in Bremerton, Washington where she was employed at Payless Drug Store.

She was an avid gardener, seamstress and rug weaver. Leona and her family were very innovative and wove over 5,000 rugs from rags on a loom constructed by her father using scrap material. She lived her faith daily and was a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved sister Luella and her dear friend Albert Flansaas who passed away in May of 2013.

She leaves to mourn her death, her long time personal friends, Art and Carolyn Folden; Albert's family; several first and second cousins residing back east