Darene “Dee” Leininger, 61, of Elkton, Minnesota, died Wednesday March 8, 2017, at her home in Elkton surrounded by her family.

Dee was born June 4, 1955 in Brainerd, Minnesota to Elder and Barbara (Delk) Johnson. As a young girl Dee was involved in Girl Scouts, camping, swimming and water skiing. She attended and graduated from Wayzata High School. Over the years Dee worked in food service and was a devoted housewife. She was united in marriage to Terry Leininger on Dec. 11, 1993 in Byron, Minnesota. Dee loved to go fishing and camping with her grandchildren and getting together with her friends to solve the world problems.

She is survived by her husband Terry of Elkton,  mother Barbara Johnson of Plymouth, Minnesota, children; Tina (Michael) Mann of Hammond, Minnesota, Barb Dudley of Independence, Missouri, Mary (Sherwin) Samaniego of Memphis, Tennessee, Emmerson Marlowe of Moose Lake, Minnesota, step children; Nicholas (Valerie) Leininger of Ontario, Canada, and Katherine (Josh) Ableman of Ontario, Canada; 17 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and four siblings; LuAnn (Bruce) Bartko, of Minneapolis, Scott Johnson and Douglas (El Rose) Johnson both of Plymouth, Minnesota and Patti (Ed) Fritz of Rochester, Minnesota.

Memorial services for Dee will be held 1 p.m., April 8, 2017, at the Hindt Funeral Home in Grand Meadow with Pastor Joe Haynes from the First Baptist Church in Spring Valley.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com