LEONA FRANCIS (ARENDS) PARKER, age 97, of Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of Worthington, died Friday, June 23, 2017, at the Bethany Home in Sioux Falls, SD. She was born April 15, 1920, in White, SD, to Okkel and Caroline (Meester) Arends. Leona was the middle child of seven siblings. At the age of ten, she moved to the farm north of Ellsworth. She saw ‘the city’ for the first time when she moved to Ellsworth where she attended public school.

   Leona married Mike Waltjer on August 30, 1946. The couple lived in Adrian and raised two girls. Mike died on December 25, 1966 due to lung cancer.

   Leona married Richard “Cecil” Parker on August 11, 1978. They lived in Worthington and were together for thirty seven years until his death February 7, 2015. Leona then moved to Sioux Falls, SD and lived with her daughter, Audrey.

   She was a former member of the United Methodist Church in Adrian; and delivered Meals on Wheels. Bowling was one of Leona’s favorite activities. Once, even earning a spot in a tournament and getting her picture in the paper and winning a steam iron. She enjoyed fishing and wintering in Florida, with Cecil, for a number of years. She crocheted, was a crafter and made many things with Cecil. As her eyes began to fail, her hobbies were pushed aside. However, watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings was a passion she enjoyed to the end.

   Leona is survived by her two daughters, Verna (Jerry) Henriksen, Sioux Falls, SD; and Audrey Chipperfield, Sioux Falls, SD; nine grandchildren, Brenda Arends, Craig (Heather) Arends, Dawn (Jeff) Gross, Shelley (Rich) Grebner, Teri (Pat) Rogers, Mike (Rhonda) Pfannes, Dave Pfannes, Dan (Tracy) Nelson, and Jeremy Chipperfield; fourteen great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; son, Larry “Rip” (Mavis); four brothers, Jake, Ornel, Wally and Stanley Arends; and two sisters, Loretta Ponto and Verna Bowen.

   Funeral will be 10:30 am Monday at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, officiated by Pastor Paul Snyder. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Monday. Burial will be in the Adrian Cemetery.

   To view an online obituary or order flowers, please visit www.dingmannandsons.com

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