Leona M. De Vries, age 95, of Sioux Falls, SD and formerly of the Sheldon and Boyden, Iowa and the Bigelow, Minnesota area passed away on Friday, January 18, 2013 at her home in Sioux Falls, SD.
Her service will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at the Bigelow Community Church in Bigelow, Minnesota with Rev. Ron Lammers ~ officiating. Burial will be in the Sheridan Township Cemetery in Boyden, Iowa
Visitation will be after 4:00pm Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Boyden with family present from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M..
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
Arrangements under the care of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Boyden, Iowa.
Leona Marie (Reimers) DeVries was born on October 12, 1917 in Boyden, Iowa the daughter of William and Christina (Schildhauer) Reimers. She received her education in Boyden, Iowa. On July 16, 1937 she was united in marriage to Leonard M. DeVries in Boyden, Iowa. They farmed near Boyden and Ritter, Iowa. In 1956, they moved to a farm near Bigelow, Minnesota, and farmed and resided in the community until they retired. Her husband preceded her in death, on April 23, 1997. Leona remained living on her own until she passed away on January 18, 2013, at The Inn on Westport, in Sioux Falls, at the age of 96.
Leona was a member of Bigelow Community Church in Bigelow, Minnesota. She loved the outdoors, especially bird watching. Leona grew up on the farm, and animals were always very important to her. She always had a beloved pet at her side. Her flower gardens were a great source of pride and joy for her, and she spent many joyous hours outdoors tending to them. She was passionate about baseball, and loved playing with her family and was even on a team for some time. She never missed a Minnesota Twins game! Family was extremely important to her, especially Sunday dinners. She was known for her long phone calls and letters, and was ever diligent about sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.
Leona is survived by a daughter-in-law, Sheri DeVries of Hartford, South Dakota; her 7 grandchildren, Laura Stoiber of Hibbing, MN; Jason Stoiber, of Duluth, MN; Tasha Stoiber, of San Francisco, CA; Timothy and his wife, Debra DeVries, of Wall Lake, SD; Harlow Kolander, of California, Teri McKenney, of Sioux Falls, SD; Kellin and his wife, Geri DeVries; of Hartford, SD; 12 great grandchildren, and a sister-in-law, Harriet Reimers of Boyden, Iowa and numerous nieces and nephews.
Leona is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her 2 children, Duane DeVries and Darlene and her husband, George Stoiber; her parents, and three brothers, Marion, Art and Vern Reimers.
