Leona Weyers Bellinger

Leona Margaret Weyers Bellinger passed away on March 27, 2025. Leona was 90 years-old, and leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and service.
Born on February 18, 1935 in Stromsburg, Leona Hellstrom was the middle child of Walfred and Elida Hellstrom. She grew up on a farm near Ocelola, until she moved to Stromsburg when she was 13. She was involved in 4-H which led to a lifelong passion of sewing and baking.
Leona was an active member of the First Covenant Church growing up in Stromsburg, and in Lincoln where she moved in 1959, also in Aurora where she moved in 1970. She was a past executive board member of the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg and a lifetime member of the Norden Club. She was treasurer for her HOA and a Sunday school teacher.
Leona loved her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins and everything Swedish. She was in her element when she was coordinating family reunions, often for over 100 people in attendance. If Leona invited you, you would come. She loved hosting her sewing group where they worked on projects that they donated to the women’s shelter, City Mission and to foster children. Her Swedish heritage was a large part of her identity, she was a lifetime member of the Norden Club, and helped plan many programs. She lived her life with an open heart and a generous spirit, and there was always room for one more at the table. For Leona, nobody was a stranger for long. As soon as she met someone she was on a mission to discover what she and this new person had in common. How different this world would be if more people were like Leona…in search of what we all share in common.
She was a businesswoman, launching her own childcare center, Little Friends Daycare, which was licensed for 50+ children after it outgrew her house in Aurora. After moving back to Lincoln, she worked with preschool handicapped children at Pyrtle Elementary. She also sold window coverings, vacuums, and sewing machines. She found immense joy teaching sewing classes on sophisticated sergers, sewing and embroidery machines.
She was preceded in death by her parents; John Walfred and Elida Hellstrom, her husbands: Stanley Carlson Jr., Larry Voges, Wayne Weyers, and Wayne Bellinger, as well as her siblings Dorothy, Vince, Maxine, Donnie, Frank Arnold (infant), Allen and Dick.
Children left to cherish her memories are: Doug (Reggi) Carlson, Craig (Karol) Carlson, Jeff (Ruth) Weyers, Diana (David) Lewis, Jana (John) Clark and stepdaughter Jackie (Randy) Colton. Thirteen grandchildren and many great-grandchildren will remember good times sewing and baking Swedish treats together.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. at First-Plymouth Congregational Church. Visitation is from 9:30-10:30 a.m. before the funeral.
Memorials in Leona Bellinger’s honor may be made to Midwest Covenant Home Foundation, Covenant Cedars Bible Camp, or to the family for future designation.
Rest in peace, Leona. You will be deeply missed and forever cherished.