Leona Counts, age 69, of Fort Totten, ND passed away on Monday, August 25, 2025 at her home.

Leona Leta Counts was born on November 11, 1955 in Bottineau, ND to Walter and Patricia (McCloud) Counts.  She was raised in Dunseith and graduated highs school there as well.  Leona attended college in Grand Forks and Bismarck.  She worked at the state school in Grafton, then moved to Bismarck where she met Eric Longie to whom she married.  Leona worked in Dunseith at the plant until it closed and many other jobs as well.

Leona and Eric had three sons together, Marshall, Ryan, and Joel, and they later divorced.  She then had two more sons, Roger and Samuel.  Leona's children and grandchildren were her life.  She loved to have late night card games, go to the casino, and just mostly being with her family.  She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.

Leona is survived by her sons, Marshall (Marie) Longie of Fort Totten, Ryan (Cassie) Longie of Fort Totten, and Roger Jr. (Fawnda) Baker of Fort Totten; eight grandchildren, Ashlynn Jetty, Valerie Longie, Brooklyn Longie, Marshawn Longie, Carter Martin-Longie, AnnaMarie Longie, Joel Longie, and Aakia Longie; great grandchild, Armanni Jetty; siblings, Roger (Mary Rose) Counts, Richard (Renee) Counts, and Arlene Azure, all of Dunseith.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Patricia Counts, brothers, Garry, Warren, Sidney, Roland, and Dennis Counts, sisters, Diana L'Esperance and Linda Martinez, and two sons, Joel Longie and Samuel Jackson Jr.

Reader is Ginger Belgarde. Eulogy by Monica Nadeau. Eucharistic Gifts by Garry Counts and Allison DeCoteau. Rosary led by Bernice Poitra, Joy Myers, and Jeanette LaRocque.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 29, 2025 at St. Michael 's Catholic Church, Dunseith, ND with Rosary Service at 1:00 PM and gathering to begin at 9:00 AM prior to the funeral mass.  A meal will follow funeral services at the Eagle Heart Cultural Center, Dunseith, ND.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.