Luella (Mom) Genette (Holstad) Kuhlmann Leidal, 93, passed away Feb. 18, 2010, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood, Iowa, surrounded by her loving family.  
Luella was born March 7, 1915, the fifth of the 11 children of Bendik and Hilda (Erickson) Holstad, in Montpelier, N.D. She was baptized in Ypsilanti, N.D. The family moved to Northwood, Iowa in 1918. She was confirmed at the North Shell Rock Lutheran Church, Northwood. Luella and her sisters sang at many church, school, and social functions; Bendik was always happy to take “his girls” wherever they were invited to sing.
Luella graduated from Northwood High School in 1933, taking Normal (teacher’s) training during high school. She also attended summer school at Teachers’s College, Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught in several area schools and always enjoyed keeping in contact with her students over the years.
On June 21, 1936, Luella married Vernon Kuhlmann. He was killed in a traffic accident in October of 1936, and she returned to live with her parents. Her daughter, LaVerne, was born June 10, 1937. Luella married Curtis Leidal on Sept. 21, 1940, in Northwood, Iowa and Curtis adopted LaVerne. Luella and Curtis had four more children: Karen, LeRoy, Kathy, and Kevin. They farmed east of Northwood until 1965, when they moved into Northwood. They also lived briefly in Charles City, Iowa, and then returned to Northwood for the last of their 69 years of marriage.
Luella was a homemaker, Sunday school teacher, enjoyed bible studies, and was one of the first women to serve on the First Lutheran Church council. She enjoyed going to her grandchildren’s activities wherever they might be. She was always ready to read a story to them.
Luella is survived by her husband, Curtis, Northwood; sons, Leroy (Lonna) Leidal, Hudson, Wis., Kevin (Becky) Leidal, Solon, Iowa; daughter, Kathy (Tom) Christianson, Northwood, Iowa; and son-in-law, Kenneth Fredrickson, Grafton, Iowa. 
Funeral service will be on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood with the Rev. Daniel Hart officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood.
Memorials can be given in her memory to Opportunity Village, Clear Lake, Iowa; the Lutheran Retirement Home Auxilary, Northwood, Iowa; or the choir fund of the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, Iowa.
Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood is in charge of arrangements.