To view Shanna's Prayer Service, please go to: https://youtu.be/FZNJMaiux0k

To view Shanna's Funeral Service, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/live/7rNIRjePCds?feature=share

Shanna Jean (Leighton) Kaufman, 42, of Grand Forks, ND passed away at her home on Saturday, June 10, 2023, after a long and hard battle with cancer.

Shanna Jean Leighton was born on April 22, 1981, in Rugby, ND, the daughter of Lawrence and Katherine (Lawson) Leighton.  She was raised in and educated in Rugby.  As a young person, she was involved in many pursuits and activities in Rugby.  She participated in basketball, taekwondo, track and field, color guard, rifle twirling, cheerleading, science tournaments, band, and choir.  She received many academic awards, fitness awards and presidential awards.  She graduated, with honors, from Rugby High School in 1999.  She went to attend Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, ND.  She loved growing up and being with her siblings.  She enjoyed their times together at Bible Camp, camping, and family get togethers at Grandpa and Grandma Lawson's house.

Shanna was married to Gerald Ferdon, and they had two beautiful girls, Sierra, and Mercedes.  A short time later, she was blessed with another daughter, Nevaeh. She was very proud of her daughters.  She always guided them and encouraged them to be the best they could be and give what they could offer.

Shanna was employed with Walmart for 23 years and was dedicated to her job.  She loved her co-workers whom she considered family. Shanna met the love of her life, Douglas Kaufman at Walmart.  They began their life together over a PB Twix Bar, which led them to be together for the last 8 years. They were married June 5th, 2023. She was very excited and looked forward to becoming a grandmother.  She joyfully succeeded on June 8th, 2023, when Dean was born.

Shanna is survived by her husband, Doug; her parents; her children, Sierra (Ryne Uhrich) Ferdon, Mercedes (Brody Defoe) Ferdon, Nevaeh Nancy; a grandchild, Dean Allan Defoe; her siblings, Stephanie Leighton, Tyler (Meg) Leighton, and Ashley Leighton; her special friends, Jeni, Tammi. Jenell and Joey; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews; father-in-law, David Kaufman; friends and her pets "fur babies."

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Walter and Nancy Lawson and Charles and Lil Leighton; mother-in-law, Marcella Kaufman; cousins, Amanda, and Michael; brother-in-law, Daniel Ferdon, and best friend, Maow.

Funeral Service : 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sharon Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, ND.

Visitation : 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 13, 2023, with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service in the Historic Norman Funeral Home. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the funeral service in the church on Wednesday.

Interment: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND