watch Luella funeral mass

Luella May Voit, age 86, of Mahnomen, MN, died Monday, January 31, 2022, peacefully in her home, surrounded by family.

Luella, the daughter of Ellsworth and Katherine (Coultas) Bjornson, was born December 17, 1935 at the Deaconess Hospital, Grand Forks, ND.  The family lived on a farm in Arville, ND, until she was seven years old, and they moved to Larimore, ND.  Luella enjoyed roller skating, bicycling, ice skating and was kind of a tomboy, always playing with the neighbor boys.  She was involved in 4-H, Girl Scouts, and went to camp every year at the nearby State Park.  At age 16, her parents bought a farm 15 miles from Mahnomen, where Luella attended Mahnomen High School and started dating, going to card parties and dances.  She graduated from Mahnomen High School on June 4, 1954.

Luella met and married Leonard Voit on October 6, 1954, at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Beaulieu, MN.  The young couple worked on a farm in Hecla, SD, for 2 years before returning back to the area and buying a farm east of Mahnomen where they farmed for 42 years until retirement.  Luella enjoyed gardening, cooking, and raising her eight children.

Over the years, she was employed at the Red Apple Café as a cook/waitress and Star Drive Inn as a car hop/cook.  Luella also worked at the Mahnomen Health Center from 1972 to 1998, first as a Nurse's Aide, and later after going back to school, she became an LPN, EMT and manager of the Mahnomen Ambulance.  After 26 years of service to the hospital, Luella retired and began working at the Mahnomen County Historical Society as a curator and manager.  Even in retirement, Luella's hands were never idle. She enjoyed volunteering at the Mahnomen Helping Hands Food Shelf serving as President of the Board, in addition to spending many hours on the Museum board of directors and occasional volunteering for various projects.  Luella was very active in VFW Auxiliary, Legion Auxiliary, St. Michael's Ladies Aid, Farmers Union Leader, 4-H Leader, Girl Scout Leader and was a lifelong member of St Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen.

Luella and Leonard had a craft business for seven years.  She enjoyed sewing, embroidery, crocheting and visiting with friends.  They enjoyed dancing and playing cards. They also enjoyed going to Lake Havasu City, AZ, since 1997, which became their second home where they had many friends and wonderful memories.  Her favorite places there was Rotary Park and the Lakeview community center.

She is survived by three sons and five daughters: Jerry (Susanne) of Mahnomen, Ron (Sue) of St. Augustine, FL, Barbara Neisen of Ada, MN, David (Denise) of Mahnomen, Janet Lamb of Fosston, Betty (Gene) Kappes of Ada, Sandy (Glenn) Valdezate of Henderson, NV, and Gloria Voit-Polizzo of Fosston, MN;  22 grandchildren; and 35 great grandchildren; brothers: Leroy (Pat) Bjornson and Don Bjornson; sister, Judy Merrill; and many nieces and nephews.

Luella was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; sons-in-law: Charlie Neisen and Howard Polizzo; granddaughter, Angie Neisen; and sister-in-law, Karen Bjornson.

Luella said she had ten good reasons for being herself: Belief in God, a wonderful husband and eight wonderful children.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen.  Visitation was at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Mahnomen, on Friday, February 4, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:00 and a Rosary to follow.

A Burial service will take place at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Mahnomen, on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.