Leanda Jane Brase

Leanda Jane Johnson was born on November 13, 1930, in Corliss Township, Perham, Minnesota, to Henry and Emma (Matz) Johnson. Leanda was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Corliss. She attended rural school and graduated from Perham High School in 1948. She attended St. Cloud State College graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education. In college she was selected into the Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges at St. Cloud. Upon graduation from college, she accepted a teaching position at Detroit Lakes High School from 1952 to 1955. On June 26, 1954, she married her beloved husband Arland H. Brase at St. John's Lutheran Church near Perham, Minnesota. They made their home and raised their four children in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. In 2022 they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.
In 1965 she returned to teaching at the Minnesota State Community and Technical College where she was the first employee hired at the college then known as the Area Vocational School. Her first classes were Manpower Training courses at 817 Lincoln Avenue. In 1967 the new college building was opened to regular classes where she continued to teach until retirement in 1993. During her career at the College, she earned a Master's Degree in Business in 1979 from Moorhead State University. She taught a wide variety of subjects and counseled many students who found employment in the secretarial field. She also coordinated the Associate Degree programs and advised the Business Professionals of America for 25 years.
Leanda has been an active member of Zion Lutheran Church since 1952. As a trained evangelist in Dialogue Evangelism, she served as a team outreach member and board member from 1980 to 1994. She worked on staff at Zion as the Coordinator of Outreach Ministry from 1994 to 1997. She continued to be active in Evangelism for many years. She was a member of the Church Council and served on many ad hoc committees and was active in various roles. She was dedicated to her love of prayer, hospitality, and welcoming others into the church.
She loved the feel of the country and outdoors. Her pride and joy was her family with grandchildren the center of her attention. She and her family spent many summers at their lake place on Big Pine near Perham. Arland and Lea enjoyed entertaining them with boating, water skiing/wakeboarding, fishing, swimming, and feasting. Other interests were reading, tennis, bible study, and traveling; her favorite vacation was Maui.
Leanda Brase, 93, died April 22, 2024.
She is survived by her two sons, Glen (Deb) of Alexandria, Minnesota; Dane of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; two daughters, Terry Lea (Terry J.) Mastel of Mandan, North Dakota; Nancy (Jeff) Sornsin of Fargo, North Dakota. Also, 10 grandchildren, Chris (Kim) Mastel, Andrew Mastel, Lindsey (Aaron) Eidsness, Daniel Mastel, Kaylea (Sid) Mennon, Lydia (Mike) Golis, Anna (Kris) Heidelberger, Gretchen (Luke) Magnuson, Emily (Ben) Deetz, Ashley Sornsin, and 13 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother-in-law, Arvet and two sisters-in-law, Arlene Holst, Vlasta Brase, and many special nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Arland, three brothers, Earl, Marlin, and Ervin E. (Mayme) Johnson, two sisters, Henrietta (John) Grabanski and Erna (Adam) Kisacky, two brothers-in-law, Marven Brase, and Eugene Holst, and sister-in-law, Aletha Brase.

The visitation for Leanda Brase will be held at David-Donehower Funeral Home, Sunday, April 28, 2024 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, prayer service will begin at 4pm.
The funeral service for Leanda Brase will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Detroit Lakes, MN, on Monday, April 29, 2024 at 11:00 am with Pastor Dan Abrahams officiating, with a visitation starting one hour prior to the funeral service. 
Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes.

David-Donehower Funeral Home is serving the family.  For more information, please visit DavidDonehower.com, or call (218) 847-4147.