Leona Jeanette Shellum

Leona Shellum, age 98, of Saint James, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake. She lived a long and beautiful life shaped by devotion to her family, deep faith, resilience, and love.

Funeral Service will be held at St. Olaf Lutheran Church - in rural Odin, Minnesota on Monday, February 09, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Visitation will take place at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Leona (Durheim) Shellum was born on April 4, 1927, to Wilbert Durheim and Mildred (Noren) Durheim in Saint James. She was baptized and confirmed at East Sveadahl. Leona graduated from St. James High School in 1944 and began working right after graduation. Throughout her career, she was known for her dedication and kindness while working at First National Bank, Schroeder Lumber Yard, Citizens Bank, and later the Watonwan County Farm Service, where she remained until her retirement.

Leona's devotion to family and her deep faith guided her throughout her life. She returned to East Sveadahl to marry the love of her life, Marland Shellum, in 1947. Together they were blessed with three children: Steve Shellum, Dennis Shellum, and Jeanette Sturm. Leona taught Sunday School at St. Olaf, served as church treasurer, and was an active participant in Bible study.

Her resilience was especially evident after the passing of her husband, Marland, in 1968 following a battle with a brain tumor. Leona leaned on her faith and the strength of her community, continuing to live with grace and purpose.

She cherished time spent with friends over coffee and cards and enjoyed traveling by bus on trips around the country during her retirement years. She remained active in the community, serving as a dispatcher for senior transportation. In her later years, Leona enjoyed reading, word search and sudoku puzzles, playing cards, visiting with friends, and spending treasured time with her family.

Leona is survived by her brothers, Noren Durheim of Madelia and Daryl (Sharon) Durheim of Arden Hills; daughter, Jeanette (Dan) Sturm of St. James; daughter-in-law, Deb Shellum of Sartell; grandchildren, Josh (Anne) Sturm, Jacob (Katy) Sturm, Kyle (Amanda) Sturm, and Kaleb Sturm, all of St. James, Traci Shellum of Las Cruces; great-grandchildren, Michael (Hannah), Brayden, Jaxson, Jonas, Lauren, Avery, Emmett, Braxton, Audra, and Sutton Sturm, and great-great-grandchild, Finley Sturm.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marland Shellum; sister, Arlene (Vernon) Enger; parents-in-law, Milford and Hannah Shellum; sister-in-law, Ilene Tams; brother-in-law, James Shellum, and her sons, Steve and Dennis Shellum.