Liana P. Leinonen, age 60, of Annandale, died Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 am, Saturday, August 23, 2014 at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale with Rev. Tom Heyd officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at a later date at North Corinna Cemetery.

Liana Panageota Leinonen was born on January 6, 1954 in Flora, Illinois to Carmon F. and Dorothy (Hayes) deWeese. Liana attended school in Flora, before being united in marriage to Michael Gaule. They moved to various cities before settling in the Annandale area. She then began working at the Annandale Care Center, where she worked for the past 25+ years. Liana was a dedicated, selfless worker, where she enjoyed her time interacting with the Care Center residents. Liana also willingly worked holidays and weekends, so her fellow coworkers could spend time with their families. She especially enjoyed working on the 4 ^th of July, where she could watch the parade with the residents. On September 22, 2000 she married Steven Leinonen at the Wright County Courthouse. Liana served as an Annandale Cub Scout leader for numerous years. In her spare time, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, especially with the Care Center residents, doing word finds, traveling, antique cars,  playing cards, collecting spoons, music, cooking, flowers, gardening, and listening to the residents of the Annandale Care Center tell their life stories. Above all, Liana embraced all aspects of being a grandmother; she treasured the time she spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her spouse, Steven Leinonen, of Annandale; sons, Cory (Janelle) Gaule of Rockville and Christopher (Genesis) Gaule of Grafton, ND; stepchildren, Dianne Leinonen of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Stephanie (Terry) Robinson of Annandale, and Paul (Jodi Vannett) Leinonen of South Haven; 14 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; brothers, Nick (Vera) deWeese of Flora, IL, Marco (Shari) deWeese of Olney, IL, Alexis (Carolyn) deWeese of New Haven, IN, Philip (Patty) deWeese of Mt. Horeb, WI; sisters, Maria (Bob) Hahn of Mt. Carmel, IL, Gina Lowe of Manhattan, KS; and sister-in-law, Karen deWeese of Flora, IL; many nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends. Liana is preceded in death by her brothers, Stephen and Carmon D. deWeese, sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Henry Taylor.