Leona F. Ball, 95, beloved mother and grandmother, of Delphos was born on May 4, 1917 in rural Ottawa County, and departed this life on Wednesday July 25, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Society - Minneapolis

She was a homemaker and farm wife. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed playing canasta, pitch, and dominos. She was a member of the Delphos United Methodist Church. She was active in Sr. Citizens of Delphos. She loved life.
She married James M. Thurston in 1935 and had 4 children in her 40 years of marriage. She married a second time at age 60 to Jack Nelson and enjoyed dancing and card playing. She married a third time to Max Ball and enjoyed dancing and going to church.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; James M. Thurston, John R. Nelson, and Max Ball, her son; Larry Thurston, her brother; Charles Hartley, a nephew; Wayne Hartley, and her parents; Charles and Frances Hartley.

Survivors include her children; Don Thurston of Delphos, Alan Thurston(Barbara) of Bella Vista, Ark., and Virginia Plummer (Robert) of St. George, Ks. ; 13 grandchildren; Melanie Thurston of Tulsa, Ok., Amy Garner (Lance) of Manford, OK., David and Michael Thurston of Shreveport, LA Jessica Dubose (Rick) of Springfield, Ill, Jennifer Payne (Kendall) of Lenexa, Brad Thurston of Wells, Jared Thurston of Charlotte, NC., Lisa McGavran (Mark) of Olathe, James Plummer (Autumn) of Cedar Rapids, IA., Dan Plummer of Manhattan, Abbie Plummer of St. George, and Mardee Matlack of Canyon, TX.; numerous Nelson grandchildren and great grandchildren, 16 great-granchildren; 3 nieces; Carol Foley (Ken) of Maryland, Diane Perry (Eddie) and Linda Bland of Key West, Fl. and 2 nephews Dewayne Hartley of Key West, FL., and Roger Thurston of Morrilton, Ark.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, July 30 at the Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Burial will be in the Delphos Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 4:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Delphos United Methodist Church or the Delphos Senior Center and may be left in care of the funeral home.