Lelia Mae Schardin was born on November 5, 1930, on a farm near Diesem, North Dakota, the daughter of Fred and Emma (Belz) Schardin. She was first baptized by her grandmother Belz at the home and later on December 20, 1930 at the church. She was confirmed on March 25, 1945, at Zion Lutheran Church, Edgeley, North Dakota. Her confirmation verse was “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Lelia grew up on the farm and attended country schools such as Rural Bluebird #1. She later attended Jud and Edgeley Elementary Schools. She graduated from Edgeley High School in 1948 and attended the Jamestown Business College.

She worked in several businesses in Edgeley such as the Edgeley Creamery, Edgeley Library and Bookmobile, the Lamoure TCA office and the REC. In 1974, Lelia moved to Jamestown, North Dakota and worked for Mellands and the Jamestown Hospital for 24 years, retiring in July 2011. She remained on as a volunteer for many years and also volunteered for several summers at Medora, North Dakota.

Lelia was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, first in Edgeley at Zion Lutheran, where she taught Sunday School for many years and later in Jamestown at Concordia Lutheran. She enjoyed traveling with her sisters, extended family and friends and was fond of reading, crafting, puzzles, and writing poetry.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Emma Schardin and her sisters, Bertha Belz and Alyce (Harold) Kurtz. Lelia is survived by her sister, Violet Podenski and several nieces, Claudette Williams, Denise Spajer, Daureen Shippey, and Dalanne Podenski, one nephew, Greg Kurtz, as well as several great nieces and nephews.

Lelia moved to Eventide on May 2, 2016, and died there on Friday, July 8th, 2022.

Funeral Service: 10 AM, Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Eventide at Hi Acres Manor Chapel, Jamestown, ND.

Burial: 1 PM, Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Mount Hope Cemetery, Edgeley, ND.

Arrangements are in the care of Eddy Funeral Home.