Vonna Leckband

Ocheyedan, Iowa

Vonna Rose Leckband was born January 27, 1943, in Heron Lake, MN. She died July 3, 2020, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, surrounded by her daughters. She was 77.

Vonna graduated from Okabena High School in 1961, and Mankato School of Business in 1962. She started her first job at the Band Box Dry Cleaners in Worthington, MN, where she met Larry Leckband. He saw her through the window, and promptly brought in some perfectly clean wash and wear jeans that he said needed cleaning. The rest was history.

During their 57 year marriage, they raised five kids, built a beautiful home (that Vonna designed) on a beautiful lake (that Larry built), planted countless trees, welcomed a load of grandchildren, went a lot of places, and made a lot of friends. Theirs was a wonderful partnership of spontaneity, vision, energy, persistence, and good humor.

Vonna loved travel and eagerly embraced new adventures. In the 1970s she and Larry went on a number of epic motorcycle trips, some consisting of thousands of miles. And yes, folks, she rode her own bike. They were also actively engaged in tractor pulling back in the day. She was almost always the only woman competing. She won a lot of trophies in the Hot Rod Class, perched on a souped up Oliver 70 with a 1964 Chevy Impala 327 engine. She was feisty, fearless, and gorgeous.

She loved music (well, except country music, as she was fond of pointing out) and the arts. She was particularly passionate about the performing arts, and was a driving force in founding Ocheyedan's Main Street Players, for whom she directed many plays. She also directed plays in other communities in the area, including Off Off Broadway in Ashton and the Lakes Community Theater in Okoboji. She had a true gift for this, with an innate ability to inspire people to stretch their talents.

In recent years she was a tireless volunteer with Friends of the Auditorium in Worthington, MN. It may be more accurate to say she was a fixture with that institution since she was there nearly every day, helping to plan programming and events, and of course directing some plays. She involved the whole family, instilling an appreciation of theater and the spirit of volunteerism in her grandchildren.

Vonna was very active in the local community as an enthusiastic member of Unity Circle, the American Legion Auxiliary (thanks, Mom, for all those years of membership you would buy for each of us), and her bridge club. For over 20 years, she was instrumental in making the annual community Thanksgiving Dinner in Ocheyedan an enormous success. She loved being with people, and delighted in making every holiday and get together a festive and beautiful occasion. It's hard to imagine these events ever being the same without her.

She wore an extraordinary number of career hats during her life. At different times she was a  pharmacy assistant, a school lunch lady, a florist, and, most recently, a librarian. More importantly, she was a dedicated homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was deeply engaged in the lives of her grandchildren. A big highlight was the way she would take each of them school shopping individually every fall. She was also the warden for Larry, and now we're drawing straws to see who's going to take over her job of telling him to stop wearing his dirty boots in the house.

Vonna was preceded in death by her father, Clarence Morrison, her brother, Glen Morrison, her grandparents (including Grandma Wiese, whose delicious cookies she taught us to make), and a number of beloved friends.

She is survived by her mother, Alva Morrison, of Sibley, IA; husband, Larry Leckband, of Ocheyedan, IA; daughters Laurie Bergren, Sheri (Paul) Kellen, Julie (Greg) Eilers, Amber (Tom) Taylor, a son, Mark Leckband; grandchildren Dalton, Ally, Travis, Tommy, Brianna, Griffin, and Quinnly (collectively known as “the urchins”); step-grandchildren Erin, Jackie, Addison, and Alex; and one great-grandchild, TJ.

Vonna was a woman of deep Christian faith. We all feel she left us too early, but she would like us to know that her varied work here is accomplished. Her new assignment includes a reunion with many family and friends whom she has not seen in a long time, and we wish her a joyous journey.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Vonna's honor to either the Ocheyedan Public Library or the Children's Miracle Network at the following addresses:

Ocheyedan Public Library

P.O. Box 427

Ocheyedan, IA  51354

Sanford Health Foundation—Children's Miracle Network P.O. Box 5039 Sioux Falls, SD  57117-5039

Jurrens Funeral Home- Andringa Funeral Chapel of Ocheyedan is in charge of arrangements.