Mass of Christian burial for Leona Malsam, 83, of Hosmer is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hosmer. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
A liturgical wake is 7 p.m. Monday at the church in Hosmer with visitation starting at 5 p.m. Visitation continues one hour prior to services Tuesday.
Leona was born June 17, 1929, to Adam and Mary (Reinboldt) Hopfinger at home on their farm, 9 miles outside of Hosmer, S.D. She attended school in Hosmer through her freshman year, when her family moved to Aberdeen, S.D. She graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1947.
Leona met Dave Malsam, the love of her life, at a wedding dance in Hosmer. Six months later they were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aberdeen.
From 1955 to 1980, they lived on the farmstead they had purchased from Dave's parents. They enjoyed raising their family on the farm, instilling the value of a good work ethic in each of their children. Leona had grown up during the Great Depression, so she always appreciated everything that she was blessed with and worked for. She took nothing for granted.
In 1980, they moved to Hosmer. This gave them a lot of leisure time to go fishing in Canada and on the Missouri River, where they caught walleyes and enjoyed camping. They spent 14 wonderful years together in town, spending time with friends and playing pinochle.
Leona enjoyed many things in her lifetime. She liked fishing, dancing, gardening, sewing quilts, going on walks, playing card games and crocheting. She most loved visiting with friends and family, whom she would spend countless hours baking treats for.
She was devoted to her faith and let that faith guide her life. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Altar Society in Hosmer.
Leona joined her loving husband, Dave, in heaven, passing away with her family at her side on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at the Senior Citizens Home in Hosmer. She was an amazing mother to 14 children and a loving grandma to 35 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Celebrating her life are her children: Robert (Gayle Harty) Malsam of Aberdeen, Jerome (Geralyn) Malsam of Hosmer, John (Gwen) Malsam of Mellette, S.D., Carol (Richard) Barth of Lodi, Calif., Thomas (Joan) Malsam of Mellette, Joanie (Ron) Janish of Aberdeen, Richard (Mary) Malsam of Collinsville, Okla., Lucy (Bill) Korn of Hosmer, Marge (John) Lassegard of Rapid City, S.D., David (Natalie) Malsam of Aberdeen, James (Melony) Malsam of Aberdeen and Troy (Laura) Malsam of Bath, S.D.; her sisters, Josephine Heier and Margaret Heier of Hosmer; 35 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Her husband; daughter, Yvonne Ritterhouse; son, Terry Malsam; parents, Adam and Mary; sisters, Francis Heilman, Magdalena "Lena" Harty, Philipena Harty and Mary, who died in infancy; granddaughters, Tina Lucille Vadakin and Michelle Lee Lassegard; and a grandson, Kevin Janish, preceded her in death.
Services with Gramm Funeral Home of Ipswich.
grammfuneralhome.com