Leona "Onie" Saatoff, age 98, of Grand Rapids, MN, formerly of Waubun, MN, died on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at Manor House Care Center in Grand Rapids, MN, under hospice care.
Leona was born July 10, 1917, in Springfield, MN, to Henry and Mary (Boetcher) Beckman. At a young age, she and her family moved to a farm five miles northeast of Flom, MN. She attended Cheerful Nook Country School located one and a half miles from their farm.
Leona was united in marriage to Rint Saatoff on September 10, 1937. The couple made their home on a small farm, two miles from her home place, where they raised three boys: Eugene, Dennis and James. Being outdoors and working in her flower garden was special to her. She also loved to go to auctions and garage sales. Leona loved fishing with her husband and sons and even tried deer hunting a couple of times. She was a very talented seamstress and created many beautiful quilts. For several years, Leona worked at the Red Owl Store in Flom. In their later years, she and Rint became caretakers of Ed Schermerhorn's property on White Earth Lake. Following Rint's death, she continued alone as caretaker for 13 additional years. After retiring as caretaker, Leona had a home built on property she purchased on White Earth Lake. She lived on White Earth Lake until December of 2012, when her failing health forced her to move to the Manor House in Grand Rapids.
Leona is survived by two sons, Gene (Beverly) Saatoff of Waubun, and Jim (Fern) Saatoff of Deer River, MN; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rint, a son, Dennis "Butch" Saatoff, a grandson, David Saatoff; a brother, Edwin (Larna) Beckman and three sisters: Viola Beckman, Eleanor (Cecil) Cary and Norma (Bud) Bjorgen.
Services was held Monday, November 23, 2015, at 11:00 am at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mahnomen, MN. Visitation was one hour prior to her service. Burial was at Riverside Memorial Park in Mahnomen.
