Leona L Shelton

Leona Louise (Rakow) Shelton, 89, of Colorado Springs, CO, formerly of Arvada, Colorado was called to be with our Lord and Savior on December 19th, 2012 surrounded by her family.  To cherish her memory, she has left her sons Ronald Shelton and his wife Debbie, Marvin Shelton and his wife Patricia, Glenn Shelton and his wife Susan and Kenneth Shelton and his wife Cheri; her grandsons Bruce Shelton and Christopher Shelton, her granddaughters Christina Martin, Heather Olmstead, Kathryn Packham, and Angela Trevino; her great-grandsons Raziel Trevino and Braedon Martin and her great-granddaughters Caileigh Martin and Isabella Olmstead, her brothers Ray Rakow and Willard Rakow and many other cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many many friends.

Leona was born in Bellingham Minnesota on March 11, 1923. She was baptized on April 1, 1923 and later confirmed on March 21, 1937 at St Peters Lutheran Church in Bellingham.  She graduated from Bellingham High School on May 28, 1942. 

Leona moved to Denver Colorado after graduation where she worked various jobs including making candy at Russell Stover Candies.  While living in Denver she attended Grace Lutheran Church in Denver where she enjoyed singing in the Walther League choir. 

Leona met Chauncey Shelton of Bethlehem Lutheran Church through a letters for servicemen program and they were later married on February 24, 1951 and lived in Edgewater Colorado.  There, they had 5 sons, Charles, who passed away 2 days after birth on December 19, 1951, Ronald, Marvin, Glenn and Kenneth.  In 1965 the family moved to Austin Texas and lived there until Chauncey passed away on the October 3, 1972. 

Leona and the boys moved back to Colorado in June 1973 and settled in Arvada where they joined Peace Lutheran Church.  In April of 2010 she moved to Costa Mesa California for a couple of months and then returned to Colorado Springs in order to receive assistance from her family.

Leona loved her Lord with all her heart and she was an inspiration to her family and everyone that knew her. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given in the name of Leona to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141.

The family of Leona Louise Shelton wishes to thank Peace Lutheran Church, Advantage Runyan Funeral Home and all those who have kept Leona in your thoughts and prayers over these years.