Sylvia Leonard was born February 2, 1918 to James and Lydia (Sedivy) Micanek at their home near Dixon, South Dakota. She was the fourth of five children. Sylvia attended elementary school in a country school near their home and went to high school in Gregory. She didnt care much for school, but she really enjoyed life on the farm, playing with the neighbor kids and then helping her parents with the farm work.
Sylvia met her future husband, John Leonard, at a barn dance when she was 16. They were married on June 27, 1942 in Butte, Nebraska. They lived on the Leonard family farm southeast of Lucas, South Dakota and raised two children. They farmed there until the mid 1980s when they moved into Burke to retire.
Sylvia truly enjoyed working outside. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed raising chickens and other poultry on the farm. She was a great cook and liked to sew. In her spare time, she like to go fishing, play cards, read a good book or work on a puzzle.
Sylvia was a proud member of the Southeast Lucas Mothers Club and the Lucas Baptist Church.
Sylvia died February 10, 2011 at the Rosebud Country Care Center Nursing Home in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 93 years.
Those who had the pleasure of having Sylvia as a part of their lives are her daughter, Judie Whitepipe of Dallas, SD; her son, John Leonard, Jr. and wife Cheryl of Omaha, NE; her grandsons: Tim Crouch of Winner, SD; Michael Leonard of Omaha, NE; and John Crouch of Sioux Falls, SD; her granddaughters: Carrie (Jeff) Howard of Woonsocket, SD, Suzanne (Jim) Kahler of Plankinton, SD; Stacey Leonard of Omaha, NE; and Jennifer Crouch of Dallas, SD; her great-grandchildren: Dakota Leonard, Erica and Blake Howard, BreAnna Crouch, and Hunter Vosika; her sister, Hattie Opperman and all of her nieces and nephews.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of almost 50 years, John; her brother, George; her sister, Evelyn Galletta; her sister, Helen in infancy and her son-in-law, Elmer Whitepipe.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Berean Fundamental Church in Gregory. Burial will be at the Peterson Cemetery near Burke. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 7 PM, with a 7 PM prayer service, at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke.