|
with honor, care and compassion |
|
Leslie Henning
Leslie was a strong woman of great faith and a very loving and caring servant of God. Born on August 28, 1962 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Leslie was the daughter of Howard and Janice (Titsworth) Whiting. Living only 1 year in Michigan, Leslie and her parents soon moved to Los Angeles, California. Their family soon grew to include her brother Carl. As a young child growing up in Santa Barbara, Leslie had a deep love for animals. Her dream was to become a veterinarian. Leslie raised rabbits and even would take them to 4H events. She enjoyed attending summer camps with friends and family. Caring and wanting to nurture people, Leslie could be found attending and bandaging her brother Carl as she pretended to be the nurse, just like her mother. Her parents unfortunately went separate ways, and with the passing of her mother at the age of 16, Leslie and her brother Carl moved to Vancouver, WA to live with her dad, step mom Mary, sister Dawn, and brother Neil. Attending high school, Leslie was a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America). Marrying right out of high school, Leslie welcomed three beautiful children, Mark, Elizabeth, and Joshua. They were the light of her life. Leslie later on found herself being a strong, determined and dedicated single mother.
In 1992, working as a cashier for Cub Foods in Vancouver, Leslie met a special customer. His name was Steve Henning, They instantly knew they had mutual interests. After a meal at Red Lobster, a movie, a flat tire and a kiss, the rest is history. On March 28, 1994 in Reno, NV, they exchanged vows at a small wedding chapel.
Leslie went back to school to earn a degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University, where she did her student teaching at the local school district. Leslie’s life took another twist, when she moved to Minnesota, where she welcomed another twinkle in her eye, daughter, Grace.
Being a child of Christ, Leslie’s hopes and beliefs were founded by her faith. She was a leader, a peacemaker, and amplified the good in people, with her husband; children, grandchildren and family always being the center of her life.
Leslie, of Prior Lake, was 47 years young when she peacefully and gracefully passed away into her Savior’s arms on Monday, July 19, 2010 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. She is loved and will be deeply missed by husband, Steve; children, Mark Wray of Oregon, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Oscar) Ojeda of Washington, Joshua (Toni) Wray of California, Grace Henning of Prior Lake; grandchildren, Cristian, Esteban “Chino”, Isaiah, Noah, Anthony, Ashley, Joshua and Toni’s baby due on Feb. 14, 2011; father, Howard (Mary) Whiting of Washington; siblings, Carl (Margaret) Whiting of Wisconsin, Dawn (Gary) Barnes of Washington, Neil Whiting of Germany. Leslie is preceded in death by her mother, Janice Whiting.
Pall bearers will be Steve Henning, Mark Wray, Joshua Wray, Carl Whiting, Howard Whiting, and Neil Whiting.
The Celebration of Life Service will be on Thursday, July 22 at 12:00 (noon), with visitation one hour prior to the service all at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake. Pastor Henry Bechthold will officiate. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred and will be further used for charity in Leslie’s memory.
|
