NEW ULM– Leora M. Johns, age 98, of New Ulm passed away Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at the New Ulm Medical Center with her daughter at her bedside.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Pastor Scott Oelhafen officiating. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Monday, July 10th, 2023, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – South Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the funeral on Tuesday at the church.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Leora is survived by her daughter, Connie Neal; nephews, Robert (Jeri) Johns, David Boie, and Craig Boie; niece, Becky Daniels, and sister-in-law, Doris Davis.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Erwin Johns, and her parents, Henry and Erna Schulz.

Leora Marlin Johns was born August 27, 1924 to Henry and Erna (Schreyer) Schulz of rural New Ulm. She was raised on the family farm, and she attended St. Paul’s Lutheran elementary school and graduated from New Ulm High School in 1941. She was united in marriage with Erwin Johns on May 9, 1948 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Their marriage was blessed with one daughter.

After marriage, the couple resided on the family farm in Milford Township where they farmed for 40 years and operated a Chester White purebred hog business. Following her husband’s death in 1989, Leora remained on the farm where she lived for all 98 years of her life. Having been purchased by her grandparents in 1917, her farm was recognized as a Century Farm by the Minnesota Farm Bureau.

Leora was a life-long and active member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church where she established the church library in the early 1980’s, which continued under her care for many years. She also personally funded, along with her daughter, a scholarship trust for students attending Martin Luther Collage who were pursuing a path in the ministry. Leora and her family, beginning with her grandparents and parents, have been continuous members of St. Paul’s for more than 100 years, so she was very dedicated to the church.

Leora enjoyed traveling, and she traveled with her family to most of the states including Hawaii. She also very much liked European travel visiting Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria and Czech Republic. She was also fond of gardening, cooking and playing cards with her friends.

Leora will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Blessed be her memory.

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