Leona Veneklasen Estelline, South Dakota Funeral Service 10:30 AM, Wednesday, May 3, 2006 United Church Of Christ Estelline, South Dakota Rev. Richard Fylling, Officiating Interment Hillcrest Cemetery, Estelline, SD Visitation 5PM to 8PM Tuesday at Geise Funeral Home in Estelline. Leona Ruth (Hooker) Veneklasen, daughter of George and Mary (Furrie) Hooker, was born December 6, 1910 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She grew up and received her education in rural schools near Hartford and Wall Lake, South Dakota. She was united in marriage to Clarence Veneklasen on December 12, 1933 in Sioux Falls. After their marriage they operated the Estelline Creamery until 1964. They were then employed with the Estelline School System until Clarences death on August 30, 1977. Leona continued to make Estelline her home and entered the Estelline Nursing and Care Center on September 10, 2003. She died there on Sunday, April 30, 2006 at the age of 95 years, 4 months and 24 days. She was a member of the United Church of Christ and the Plymouth Guild. Leonas coffee pot was always on and she enjoyed having company and family gatherings and serving her baked goods and cooking. She also enjoyed sewing and caring for African Violets. Grateful for having shared her life are one son, Lenny Veneklasen and his wife Betty of Estelline; two daughters, Charlotte Zafft and her husband Norman of Estelline and Sharon Ribstein and her husband Gordon of Brookings; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Delores Hooker of Las Vegas, NV; one brother-in-law, Melvin Hutt of Dallas, OR; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence; her parents; two grandchildren, Scott Veneklasen and Jeanne Collins; one great great grandson, Trevor Buys; six sisters, Nellie, Olive, Mabel, Esther, Myrtle and Gertrude; and three brothers, Thomas, James and Royal.