Leonard Jansen

Funeral services for Leonard Jansen, 92, of Dallas, South Dakota, were held Friday, December 9, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Gregory with Pastor Royal Archer officiating.

Leonard Walter Jansen was born June 19, 1924, in Dallas, South Dakota, the sixth child of thirteen to Albert and Lena (Gruhn) Jansen. He attended several country schools and graduated from Dallas High School.

On February 7, 1946, Leonard married Donna Mae Wardrip. To this union two children were adopted, Mary Jane born March 31, 1948, and David Leonard born October 20, 1950.

In 1953, Leonard and Donna bought the Henry Saathoff farm west of Dallas, South Dakota, where he showed his great love for farming. Upon their retirement, they built a new home in Gregory and spent many winters in Arizona until 1997 when Donna was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and they remained at home in Gregory, South Dakota. Donna died suddenly on May 26, 1999.

On August 11, 2000, Leonard married Clarice (Hight) Christiansen. They then sold the house in Gregory and moved back to the farm west of Dallas.

After a fall in their home, Leonard entered Rosebud Country Care Center in December of 2015. He passed away suddenly on December 4, 2016, at the age of 92.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Donna, daughter Mary, son David, one sister Bernice Ruhde, and five brothers Louis, Leroy, Clarence, William, and Melvin.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Clarice; step-daughter Sheila; two grandchildren Julie (Alan) Brown and Chris (Carla) DeMars; five great-grandchildren; two sisters Deloris Mulder and Joan (Chuck) Oden; three brothers Cliff, Jack, and Duane; two sisters-in-law, Nina Jansen and Jean (Alan) Green; three brothers-in-law, Dwight (Inez) Wardrip, Curt Hight, and Clifford Tenney (Iva) Hight; and many nieces and nephews.