Friday, August 19, 2011

Leo Severt Leland would be 100 Years Old today

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Leo Severt Leland was born 19 August 1911 in Gardiner, Montana, the son of Severt Oliver and Amelia Anna (Brocke) Leland.  He married Edna May Schaffner (1913-1979) on 11 September 1937 in San Francisco, California.  Lee died 10 June 2002 in San Jose, California.

Lee and Edna (Schaffner) Leland had two children, Linda and Paul.  Linda is married to Randall Seaver, and they have two daughters.  Lee was my father-in-law, and was a fine man who loved, enjoyed and helped his family throughout his life.

When I thought about this post, I realized that I don't have a detailed life story for Lee, nor an obituary. I'll have to ask Paul and Linda to write one.

His family and friends knew Lee as "Papa Lee" and Edna as "Mama Lee."  He and Edna bought a new home in the late 1930s at 1726 47th Avenue in the Sunset District of San Francisco, only two blocks from the Ocean Beach.  During World War II, he served as an Air Raid Warden for his neighborhood.  Lee worked at gasoline stations in San Francisco, and as a Standard Oil Company manager,  throughout his life.  The house on 47th Avenue remained in his possession until his death. 

The photo below is from 1977, on the occasion of his granddaughter's birthday:


Lee is, of course, holding the cake, Edna is holding her granddaughter Tami, his daughter Linda is on the left and Lee's granddaughter Lori is in front eating cake off her fingers.

I  first met Lee in late 1969 when Linda and I were dating, and then engaged to be married.  He and Edna were wonderful hosts in their home, and threw a great after-wedding party in their "basement" after we were married, where I met many of the extended Leland, Schaffner and McKnew families.  Linda and I visited San Francisco several times each year, and Lee and Edna visited Chula Vista occasionally.  After Edna died, Lee lived in his home until the late 1990s when he was moved to a San Jose assisted living facility.  He lived with Paul several times as he recovered from surgeries and falls.  We celebrated Lee's 80th and 85th birthdays with family and friends in San Jose, and his 90th with just close family in 2001.  There was a celebration of his life at a San Jose restaurant with family and friends after his death, with many stories and appreciation for his life and example. 

Lee's ancestor list features Norwegian and German ancestry.  Here are five generations:

Generation 1

1. Leo Severt Leland: born 19 August 1911 in Gardiner, Park, Montana, United States; died 10 June 2002 in San Jose, Santa Clara, California, United States.

Generation 2

2. Severt Oliver Leland: born 2 August 1878 in London, Dane, Wisconsin, United States; married 12 February 1904 in Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, United States; died 2 November 1940 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States.
3. Amelia Anna Brocke: born 1 November 1884 in Kendrick, Latah, Idaho, United States; died 30 July 1975 in Redwood City, San Mateo, California, United States.

Generation 3

4. Torger Sjursen Leland: born 26 March 1850 in Mølster, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; married 30 May 1876 in Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin, United States; died 18 March 1933 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States.
5. Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig: born 16 May 1853 in Øvretun, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died 26 October 1911 in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, United States.
6. Nicholas Brocke: born January 1855 in Michigan, United States; married 24 April 1877 in Cedar, Nebraska, United States; died 14 December 1938 in Lewiston, Nez Perce, Idaho, United States.
7. Anna Grieser: born 17 November 1859 in Saint Louis, St. Louis (city), Missouri, United States; died 19 March 1936 in Kendrick, Latah, Idaho, United States.

Generation 4

8. Sjur Torgersen: born 19 August 1804 in Tungeteigens, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; married 21 June 1850 in Vinje, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; died 29 March 1889 in Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin, United States.
9. Brita Olsdatter: born 4 October 1818 in Midtun, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; died 3 September 1895 in Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin, United States.
10. Elling Erikson Natvig: born 12 October 1820 in Eskestrand, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; married 19 November 1845 in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died before 1900 in Cottage Grove, Dane, Wisconsin, United States.
11. Anna Ellingsdtr: born 18 July 1812 in Vatlestad, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died after 1900 in Cottage Grove, Dane, Wisconsin, United States.
12. John Brocke: born about 1825 in Germany; married before 1853; died 13 February 1891 in probably Vermilion, Clay, South Dakota, United States.
13. Christina Webber: born September 1831 in Germany; died after 1900 in Vermillion, Clay, South Dakota, United States.
14. Ignatius Grieser: born 30 January 1835 in Buhl, Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany; married 1 May 1858 in Saint Louis, St. Louis (city), Missouri, United States; died before 15 June 1879 in Genesee, Latah, Idaho, United States.
15. Catharina Gute: born 19 September 1840 in Bavaria, Germany; died 16 November 1920 in Genesee, Latah, Idaho, United States.

Generation 5

16. Torgeir Olsen: born 19 June 1753 in Rørbakken, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; married 7 May 1796 in Voss, Hordaland, Norway; died 28 February 1827 in Gjelle, Voss, Hordaland, Norway.
17. Anna Sjursdtr: born 28 June 1772 in Grovu, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; died 16 August 1826 in Gjelle, Voss, Hordaland, Norway.
18. Olav Olavsen: born 2 January 1794 in Midtun, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; married 12 July 1818 in Vinje, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; died 6 May 1871 in Midtun, Voss, Hordaland, Norway.
19. Ingeborg Botolfsdtr: born 15 January 1792 in Bystølen, Voss, Hordaland Norway; died 19 November 1872 in Midtun, Voss, Hordaland, Norway.
20. Erik Hanssen: born 17 October 1779 in Eskestrand, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; married 27 October 1807 in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died 7 April 1822 in Eskestrand, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.
21. Kristi Ellingsdtr: born 14 June 1781 in Flatland, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died 28 August 1851 in Kjørnes, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.
22. Elling Olssen: born about 1779 in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; married 6 November 1804 in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died 11 February 1833 in Vatlestad, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.
23. Brita Rasmusdtr: born 23 August 1783 in Vatlestad, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died in probably Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.
28. Franz Xaver Griesser: born about 1794 in Buhl, Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany; married 17 April 1820 in Buhl, Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany.
29. Maria Anna Weissenberger: born 1799 in Buhl, Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany; died 27 March 1863 in Buhl, Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany.

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