Leona Fryberger

Leona Fryberger, 89, passed away Thursday, March 22, at her Billings home, where she'd resided for 65 years. She was born September 16, 1922, in the Joliet area to Henry Gratwohl Sr. and Katy Neibauer Gratwohl, and she graduated from Joliet High School in 1940. During World War II Leona served her country in Tacoma, WA, where she worked in the USO at Ft. Lewis/McCord Field. This was at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and she spent many an anxious night under blackout conditions and knew many young GI's who were not to survive the war. It was at the USO that she met and eventually married Donald E. Fryberger of Akron, OH. Leona and Don settled in Billings after the war and raised two sons, Mark and Steve. Leona was a remarkable woman who was beloved by family and friends for her humor, warmth, and the forthright way in which she handled all of life's challenges. She was a reliable champion of the underdog and the less fortunate. She dearly loved music, both as a jazz/blues fan and as an avid dancer. Her son Mark's acoustic guitar playing was of special delight to her right up to the last hours of life. Her boundless creativity with flower gardening, floral arranging, crochet, and many other crafts lent, to her little corner of the world, a unique charm and beauty. Leona loved scrabble and was still mighty hard to beat even into her 89th year. She is survived by her sons, Mark of Missoula and Steve (Regina Mallory) of Columbus; granddaughters Leah (nursing school, St. Joseph, MO) and Katy (college, Overland Park, KS), sisters-in-law Velma Gratwohl and Marjorie Gratwohl, both of Laurel, and numerous nephews and nieces. Leona was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Amelia Pollari, and her brothers Alec, Henry Jr., Herman and George. She was grateful for her doctor, Brian Schnitzer, and his nurse, Janet, for their care over the years; her friend since childhood, Emily Blotkamp; and her neighbors and friends for years, Marie and Judy Sherman, and Zoe the dog. Her sons wish to thank her hospice caregivers Dawn, Karen, and the Jessicas. Service: No services are planned at this time.