Laurel Ilene Leighton Sahlie

Laurel Ilene Leighton Sahlie, 90 of Grand Island formerly of Arcadia, died Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Island. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2013 at United Methodist Church in Arcadia, Nebraska with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hale officiating. Burial will be in Arcadia Cemetery. Visitation hours will be 4-6 Friday, January 11, 2013 at the Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with the family to receive friends one hour prior to service time at the United Methodist Church in Arcadia, on Saturday. Memorials are suggested to Arcadia United Methodist Church, Arcadia Fire & Rescue and the Arcadia Public School. Apfel Funeral Home of Grand Island is caring for the family. Mrs. Sahlie was born May 8, 1922 in Taylor County, Iowa the daughter of Roy Ellis & Grace Evangeline (Sherbeck) Leighton. She received her education at Silver Lake Public Country High School in Bedford, Iowa graduating with the class of 1939. She did house work for several years before attending nurses training at Shenandoah, Iowa, for two years. She worked as a nurse at Loup City for two years before returning home to take care of her mother. She later worked at Sterling, Colorado for a brief time, then Ballard Hospital in Broken Bow until she was united in marriage to Bill Sahlie on December 22, 1951 at Ord, Nebraska. Four children were born to this union: James Dewey, Debra Denise, Rebecca Jane and Teresa Ilene. The couple made their home in Arcadia where they resided their entire married life. Mr. Sahlie was a beekeeper and they made their living raising bees and producing honey for Sue Bee. They traveled with the bees for many years from Arcadia to Texas. The couple raised a large garden where she enjoyed canning and freezing the produce to enjoy throughout the year and tending all of her flowers and fruit trees. Mr. Sahlie preceded her in death December 10, 2001. In September of 2002 she moved to Grand Island and made her home at Riverside Lodge. The couple joined the Methodist Church in Arcadia shortly after their marriage. She was active in the Womens Church circles, especially the bake sales, when asked to support the Church bake sale she was glade to be able to help and enjoyed doing so. She was a member of an Extension Club for many years, member of Arcadia Gardening Club and Thursday Morning Womens Coffee Group. Laurel enjoyed being a homemaker, was a fabulous cook and loved to bake. She made a crocheted blanket for each of her grandchildren which was a wonderful keepsake for them. She enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren, for they were the light of her life. Survivors include: one son and daughter in law, Jim & Rose Sahlie of Woodville, Texas, three daughters and sons in law; Deb & Leonard Cernik of Lincoln, Nebraska, Beckie & Steve Stec of Grand Island, Nebraska, Teresa & Fred Nelson of Oxford, Michigan, eight grandchildren, 14 step grandchildren, two great granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 50 years, Bill Sahlie, brothers Paul & Ellsworth Leighton and sister, Ruth Hamilton. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com