Leona “Lee” Tolstedt
08/09/1931-03/31/2026
Lee is testimony to a generation that gave meaning to living life boldly, creating a life full of adventure, beauty, and service to others.
Early life began on a farm near Pierre, South Dakota. She and her 2 brothers and 3 sisters had a large responsibility helping her parents Ethel and Leonard Serbousek maintain the farm. With the support of her beloved Aunt Edith, she attended college at South Dakota State University earning a degree in Chemistry. She never forgot the help her aunt gave her and the importance of education, supporting the college education of two generations of family children.
She met the love of her life, husband Vern at South Dakota State. Working as a Medical Chemistry tech while Vern attended medical school in Chicago and welcoming three children, Brett, Brian, and Julie. Vern completed his medical and surgical residency in Seattle and served the United States Air Force as a Surgeon in Tucson
Vern and Lee moved to Helena in 1964 where she worked and volunteered to create a better world. She supported women’s rights, served on the Helena Community Council, volunteered at the Montana Historical society, Helena Symphony, and American Medical Association Auxiliary. In 1977 when infant car seats were a new cutting-edge technology, she spearheaded the St Peters Hospital “buckle up your babe” program. She secured funding and volunteered for a program that ensured for every baby who left St Peters left to leave in a baby seat. She lobbied at the Montana Legislature and helped draft the first law to make infant seats mandatory.
Dinner parties at Lee’s house were legendary. She enjoyed cooking brilliantly planned meals where laughter and warmth were the main ingredients. There were so many cookies and gingerbread houses. Lee loved the outdoors and she loved planning impossibly lavish meals for backpacking and off shore sailing adventures. She organized meals for the Plymouth Congregational Church annual backpacking trip; 6 days of extraordinary meals for up to 30 people to be packed into the Montana backcountry. There were always a thermos filled with homemade game chili prepared for ski trips and Dog sled races. Wherever Lee went, she brought something memorable to share.
Lee was very bold and is always looking to join a big adventure. She and Vern loved hiking and camping, especially when it involved being with friends and family. In retirement they christened their 44-foot sailboat “Shaman” in Seattle and sailed offshore to Mexico, California, the inside passage, the San Juan Islands and Alaska. They met other sailors and joined them for Atlantic Ocean sailing trips. There were many relaxing evenings anchored on their boat as well as some truly terrifying experiences with sailing offshore in the shipping canals.
Lee was an Artist and Inventor. She created quilts, sewed couture clothing for her young family and always had a thriving garden. With very little budget and a sewing machine she always looked sharp. When her beloved son Brett passed she lamented that one of her works of art was destroyed as she had inspired a renaissance in her entire family with clarinet, violin, piano, dance, painting, architecture, woodworking, needlework and sculpture opportunities in their lives. She encouraged everyone to invent and imagine.
She is preceded in death by Husband, Vern and Son, Brett. Surviving her are twin sister Lexia Doerr. Son Brian Tolstedt and his wife Judy, Daughter Julie Allan and husband Jeff. Grandson Nicholas Tolstedt and his wife Rebecca grandchildren Eleanor and Madeline. Many beloved Tolstedt and Serbousek nieces and nephews. In addition, the many friends from her Helena Neighborhood and Touchmark community.
A social gathering will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke and Retz Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.
In lieu of flowers, please make online gifts in Memory of Leona Tolstedt to:
- The Dementia Society of America www.DementiaSociety.org/donate
- Helena Symphony https://ci.ovationtix.com/37028/store/donations/58384
- Montana Food bank Network, Helena Food Share https://mfbn.org/resource/helena-food-share/
- The Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/
Service Schedule
Social Gathering
11:00 a.m.
Saturday April 11, 2026
Anderson Stevenson Wilke and Retz Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Social Gathering
11:00 a.m.
Saturday April 11, 2026
Anderson Stevenson Wilke and Retz Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
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Connie Cutler says
Tolstedt family,
I am so sorry to hear of Lee’s passing. I worked for Dr. T from 1991 until he retired. Lee’s laughter is what I remember the most about her. She loved her family and shared many stories about them and their accomplishments. May your memories help you through this sad time.