UNDATED — Joyce (Thompson) Leonard passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Joyce Heronimus was born on December 14, 1929, in Ellsworth, Minn., to Samuel G. and Florence (Korf) Heronimus. She graduated from Luverne (Minn.) High School in 1947 and trained as a Licensed Practical Nurse for a year under a doctor. She married Lloyal L. Thompson in 1949 and had two daughters. They divorced in 1985. Joyce married Calvin Leonard in 1988 and was widowed in 1996.
She worked in nursing until moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., in the early 1960s when she began working at Sears, where she eventually retired from. She promptly started working for the Harrisburg Furniture Barn. During this time, she also worked for Dr. Unruh in his office, and for Total Quality Maintenance, cleaning the telephone building.
Joyce worked until she was 82 years old. She loved to cook, something she had done since she was 12, and was hired out to cook meals for a threshing crew, and generously shared her cooking talents with neighbors and coworkers.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two daughters, Laura Broderdorf (Patty Steuck) of Renner, S.D., and Dawn (Mike) Hanson of Waycross; two grandchildren, Adam Hanson (Brittany Jordan) and Heather Hanson (Branden Taylor); three great grandchildren, Aaron Hanson, Michael Hanson and MacKenzy Hanson-Merritt. She also is survived by one sister, Lonell Wills, and one brother, Durward (Bud) Heronimus.
She will be greatly missed for a long time.
