Leona Reberg, 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at Samaritan Village, Hughson. Born January 10, 1922 in Modesto, CA, to Jake and Addie Harcksen, Leona grew up on a ranch that is currently the corner of Tully and Bowen Avenue. She called many places home but returned to the Central Valley to enjoy her final retirement years.
On December 6, 1944 Leona married Arnold Reberg. Leona and Arnold met in Oakland in the spring of 1944 while he was in the service and she was at nursing school. Soon after, Arnold left for Europe and when he returned six months later they were married. Their 72-year marriage was a testament to their commitment to and love of one another. The preacher at their wedding was hesitant to perform the service, saying it would never last. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Leona graduated from Modesto High in 1939, earned her AA degree at Modesto Junior College, then finished her studies at Highland Nursing School in Oakland. As a registered nurse, she was recognized for dedication to her patients at Robertson Hospital in Modesto and Dameron Hospital in Stockton. New moms especially appreciated Leona during her many years as a delivery room nurse at Salinas Valley Memorial.
As a young girl, she played the saxophone with the Modesto band and later piano for the Sons of Norway where she played a mean polka and lead the Christmas carols during the holidays. Music was a big part of her early life. Saturday evenings were spent at the Grange where her father was also a saxophone player. Ranchers during the week and active community leaders when the work was done, social life was always on her agenda. Leona had fond memories of running in the fields with her dog Patty-poo and causing mischief with her brother, Raymond, riding her bicycle 4 miles to elementary school, and living the country life.
Leona and Arnold moved to Spokane, WA where their first child, Larry, was born. She took a hiatus from nursing while raising her small children. They moved from Washington to Stockton, CA. where Barbara and Peggy were born. During this time, she was active in PTAs, Cub Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts to support her children. She and Arnold were active members of the Sons of Norway. Saturday night card games, potlucks, lodge picnics, and the annual lutefisk dinner filled their social calendar.
Family vacations were usually camping trips to the Sierras. More card games, hikes, fishing in pristine streams, campfires, swimming in lakes, and her camp meals are wonderful memories. She made it a tradition to have her spaghetti on the first night and Shepherd’s toast and sizzling bacon in the morning. Later, after the kids were grown, she and Arnold enjoyed travels both in the States and Europe and trips to visit family and friends.
They moved to Salinas in the early Sixties and that is where Leona established herself as a top-notch delivery room and nursery nurse. She and Arnold had a whole new world to explore. They loved spontaneous picnics over at the ocean or travels along the coast. They traded in tenting for a VW camper and would take off whenever they could.
The two retired to Clear Lake, CA to a home they saw as their own little resort. Their hope was it would be a place for family to enjoy and the family did! Family would gather there for holidays and grandkids came for extended visits. There was water-skiing, fishing, ducks to feed, and wineries to visit. There were memorable family dinners. She loved having her kids fill the kitchen with chaos and the feasts that resulted. She enjoyed serving mimosas and gin fizzes out on the deck in the morning sun. Her children and grandchildren fondly remember hours of playing card and board games and doing jigsaw puzzles with her. The lake was a special place for family.
After a few floods and advancing years, Leona and Arnold moved to Sonora. They were closer to family but still in an area where they could explore and enjoy nature. Finally, she completed the circle and moved back to the Central Valley, to Hughson. To Leona, living in the middle of orchards and farms was home. She loved being able to look out and see the Sierras, seeing the trees bloom in spring, and knowing the harvest was happening. As long as she could, she had her gardens and her plants. You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl.
Leona is survived by her children Larry Reberg (Rosalie), Barbara Whittaker (John), Peggy Lewis (Jon); grandchildren Keri Folks (Brian), Camden Junge (Sean), David Whittaker (Maritsa), Jake Reberg, Derek Lewis, Aaron Lewis (Kailene); and, great-grandchildren children Andrew and Alexandra Folks, Bria and Bryson Whittaker, and Dillon Junge. She was predeceased by her husband, Arnold, and brother, Raymond Harcksen.
The family would like to offer a special thanks to all of the caregivers and staff at Samaritan Village and Community Hospice for their kind and loving care. They are truly special people and were like family to Leona (and Arnold) during the 15 years they lived there.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Community Hospice Foundation of Modesto, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356 in memory of Leona Reberg. http://hospiceheart.org/
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 18 at the Samaritan Village chapel, Hughson, CA.
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