Leona Maxine Kloepper

Services for Leona M. Kloepper, 80, of Neligh were held Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater with Marvin Morsbach, High Priest, of the Community of Christ church officiating. Music was provided by Viola Morsbach and Cindy Ingram. Burial was at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh. Pallbearers were Rick Custard, Terry Julesgard, John Ingram, Jr. Troy Ingram, Ed Morrow, Brandon Stelling, and Grant Stelling. Honorary Pallbearers were Caregivers. Visitation was held Friday, February 19 at the funeral home. Leona Kloepper passed away February 17, 2010 at her home.

Leona Maxine (Ingram) Kloepper was born on December 24, 1929 at Bonesteel, S.D. to Merritt and Martha (Senn) Ingram. She spent her early childhood years in Bonesteel, Burke, and Gregory, S.D. She was baptized in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints at Bonesteel, S.D., in 1941. The family later moved to Nebraska residing in the Bartlett, Ericson, and Neligh area. Leona graduated from Wheeler County High School at Bartlett in 1949.

She attended State Teachers College at Kearney for one year where she received her teaching certificate. Her first teaching position was at District #71 near Neligh where she taught for one year. Later she worked at Contois Motor Company as a secretary/bookkeeper.

On April 12, 1953, at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Clearwater she was united in marriage to Elmer W. Kloepper. Upon their return from their wedding trip through the western states and Old Mexico, the couple operated the El Dorado theatre in Ewing which they had purchased. In 1954 they sold the theatre and moved to a farm northeast of Neligh. To this union, one daughter, Janell Lynne, was born.

Leona returned to teaching in 1961 where she taught at District #14 for three years. Other rural schools she taught at were District #114, five years; District #38, three years; District #97, 16 years; and then her teaching career moved to Elgin Public School for eight years. She retired from teaching in 1996. Education was important to Leona which led her to continue her schooling and receiving her degree in Elementary education from Wayne State College in December 1978.

Leona enjoyed square dancing, camping, and fishing. Hobbies included quilting, writing poetry, gardening and tending to flowers. She was an avid tea pot and plate collector.

In December 2000, she and her husband moved to Neligh after living on the farm for 46 years. Later she diligently and unselfishly cared for her husband even when her own health began to fail. She will be dearly missed by her family and all those who loved and cared for her. Her grandsons were her pride and joy.

Survivors include her husband, Elmer of Neligh, daughter, Janell and husband Al Stelling of Brunswick; grandsons, Brandon and wife, Jackie of North Sioux City, S.D., and Grant of Brunswick.; seven siblings, Donna Ingram of Cameron Park, CA., Mrs. William (Darlene) Custard of Bartlett, John and Violet Ingram of Lincoln, Helen and Gene Morrow of Scotia, Bill and Bonnie Ingram of Lincoln, Betty and Joe Waite of Lotus, CA., David and Cindy Ingram of Lincoln, sister-in-law, Mrs. Ivan (Marge) Kloepper of Elgin, along with many other nieces, nephews, and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers-in-law, William Custard, Walter Kloepper, and Ivan Kloepper. Condolences may be sent to Snider Memorial Funeral Home at www.snidermemorial.com .