Faith Linn Gabrielsen Lefeber, aged 81, died on August 2, 2024 in Oak Park, Illinois.

Born on September 2, 1942, in Estherville, Iowa, Faith was the eldest of three children born to Joseph Gabrielsen and Hazel Olson Gabrielsen. She was the beloved wife of the late Edward James Lefeber Jr., who died in Oak Park, Illinois on May 27, 2026. She married him on November 18, 1967, at Augustana Swedish Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C. Their marriage was a source of great comfort and strength throughout her life.

Faith was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Grace Gabrielsen, her brother Joel Gabrielsen all of Graettinger, Iowa, her sisters-in-law, Ann Lefeber Botik and Nancy Lefeber Hughes, MD, and her brother-in-law Robert Lefeber all of Galveston, Texas.

Faith graduated from Graettinger High School in 1960 with ambitions that extended beyond her rural Midwestern roots. She attended business and secretarial school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she gained the skills that led to a position with the federal government in Washington, D.C. During her ten years of U.S. Government service, Faith sought the opportunity to work abroad. She studied Spanish and accepted an overseas assignment working in the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru for two and a half years. While there, she became fluent in Spanish and traveled extensively throughout South America. Her years in Peru and her travels across the continent marked one of the most adventurous chapters of her life.

While living in Washington, D.C., Faith met her future husband, Edward Lefeber, at a ball. They married in 1967, and Faith soon turned her determination toward another goal: earning a college degree. While continuing to work, she enrolled at Georgetown University. When Ed took a medical position in El Paso, Faith continued her studies at the University of Texas at El Paso. After the couple moved to Phoenix, Arizona, she went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1973 and a Master’s degree in Social Work in 1976 from Arizona State University.

She had a deep desire to help others, especially children. She and Ed had hoped for a child for many years and, at one point, pursued adoption. Then in 1976, their daughter, Karin Elizabeth Lefeber, was born. Faith often said that the birth of her daughter was the happiest day of her life.

Faith devoted nearly two decades of her professional life to helping adults and families facing difficult circumstances. From 1988 to 1995, she worked as a social worker with adults at the Arizona State Hospital. After returning to Texas, she continued her career with Texas Mental Health Services, serving families in Temple and later in San Antonio from 1996 to 2007. Over the course of her career, Faith earned both Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Advanced Clinical Practitioner credentials and received numerous awards recognizing her dedication, compassion, and service to families.

Faith was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church in San Antonio and an ardent supporter of Planned Parenthood. She loved to travel, especially to America’s National Parks, and took numerous trips throughout Mexico.

Having left the Midwest as a young woman, she often vowed she would never move back, insisting the winters were simply too cold. In April 2024, however, she and Ed returned to the Midwest, moving to a senior living community in Oak Park, Illinois to be closer to their only daughter Karin. Faith passed away suddenly in August of that year. As it turned out, Faith kept her promise - she never had to endure another Midwestern winter.

She is survived by her daughter, Karin Elizabeth Lefeber Johnsey, her son-in-law, Ronald Grant Johnsey Jr., and her beloved grandson, Elijah Edward Johnsey, all of Oak Park, Illinois. She is also survived by her cousin, Roger Ackert of DeKalb, Illinois, and her brothers-in-law, John Lefeber of Baytown, Texas; Donald Lefeber (Rose) of League City, Texas; and Michael Hughes of Galveston, Texas and Philip Botik of Lubbock, Texas. She will also be remembered by her many cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, colleagues, and clients.

Interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas on Friday October 9, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood South Texas in memory of Faith Lefeber.

Planned Parenthood South Texas https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-south-texas 2140 Babcock Rd. San Antonio, TX 78229 210-736-2244 donate@ppsouthtexas.org

Expressions of condolence may be shared online with the family.