Obituary of Leona I Bouska

Leona I. Bouska age 98 of Yankton, SD passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD.    Pallbearers are grandchildren: Derik Kleibacker, Craig Bouska, Kyle Rainey, Cari Miller, Tera Peterson, and Hannah Bouska.

                Leona was born September 28, 1920 at Tabor, SD to Vaclav and Anna (Karolevitz) Novotny.  She was raised on a farm and was baptized and confirmed at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  She graduated from catholic grade school in 1935 and Tabor High School in 1939.  She was employed at Tyndall Café and the Human Services Center until she married William Bouska on September 15, 1941 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Tabor, SD.  They lived in a trailer while traveling around to various farms in need of repair for an insurance company.  In 1942 when Bill joined the Navy, she worked at Heitgens Drug Store and Red Owl Coffee Bar.  She then went to Oakland, CA while Bill was overseas where she was employed by the federal government.  After her husband was discharged from the Navy, they made their home in Yankton, SD and together started Bouska Construction Co.  She was a full time homemaker and mother of seven children.  After raising her family, she was employed at Gurney’s Seed and Nursery, Linda’s Children Store and Lisa’s Fashions.

                Leona was a Benedictine Oblate, member of Sacred Heart Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Daughters of America, Minister of Praise, Sacred Heart Hospital Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Senior Citizens Center, Eucharistic Minister, Adoration Quester, Bridge and Pinochle Clubs, Rosary Makers, Church Usher, Served Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the church office.  She loved to cook and bake rolls and poppy seed kolaches.  A family favorite was pork chop dumplings and sauerkraut, and gravy was always a must.

                She is survived by her two sons; Larry (Kathy) Bouska of Sioux Falls, SD and Bill (Kerryann) Bouska of Keizer, OR; four daughters: Carol (Wilson) Kleibacker of Madison, SD, Connie (Scott) Voss of Durango, CO, Nancy (Rich) Miller of Bend, OR and Ann (Lonny) Wiedmeier of Yankton, SD;  14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; son, Steve Bouska; five brothers:  Marcel, Wesley, Gilbert, Alfred, and Leo and one sister, Edna Ross.

Memorials can be directed to Catholic Daughters, Willard Court of Sacred Heart Church, 509 Capital Street, Yankton, SD  57078.