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Leona M. Hamillof Milesville, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, July 23, 2003
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Leona Margarette Katherine Freres was born October 12, 1907 at Washugal, Washington the daughter of Nicholas and Margaret "Maggie" (Wellenstein) Freres.
After living a few years in Washington and Oregon, the family, including brother Louie and sister Norma moved to Philip, South Dakota in 1908 and the following year moved to Milesville to homestead one and a half miles north of Milesville.
Leona attended Milesville School through the 8th grade and attended Philip High School where she worked for her room and board, graduating in 1925. She then spent two years in "normal school" for teachers training at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, South Dakota and received her state certificate.
Leona taught grade school in Milesville for eight years (which included 9th grade at times). Later she finished a term at the Hart School and a term at the Lucern School when "warrants" were issued for payment.
Leona was united in marriage to Russell Hamill on January 16, 1932 in Philip. They farmed and ranched a half mile east of Milesville until retiring in 1976. They continued to reside in Milesville until her husband’s death on July 1, 1981, after which Leona moved into Philip. In February 1998, she moved to the Silverleaf Assisted Care Center in Philip until August 1999 when she moved into a nursing home in St. Paul, Minnesota to be close to her daughter.
At Milesville she was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she was the organist, the Milesville Women’s Club, School Board, and the Milesville Hall Board in which she was active in building the present Milesville Hall.
At Philip, she was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Philip Health Services, and the Bad River Senior Citizens Center. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, playing cards, and fishing.
Grateful for having shared her life are her daughter, Joan Hamill of South St. Paul, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Racquel Johnson and her husband Ron of Hendricks, Minnesota, Matthew Jasper and Russell Jasper both of South St. Paul, Mark Hamill of Parker, Colorado, and Jason Hamill and his wife Vonda of Milesville; five great-grandchildren, Trent, Marissa, and Kaylee Johnson, and Nicholas and Carson Hamill; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Russell, Leona was preceded in death by a son, Earl Russell Hamill who died on November 1, 1972, a son in infancy Russell Lee Hamill; her parents; a sister Norma Elshere Welfl; and one brother Louie Freres.
The family request memorials directed to the Milesville Hall or the Earl Hamill Scholarship Fund.
Visitation was held Sunday July 27, 2003 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary service scheduled for 7:00 p.m. all at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.
Mass of Christian Burial for Leona Hamill age 95 of South St. Paul, Minn. and formerly of Philip and Milesville, SD was held 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 28, 2003 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip, SD with Father Tony Grossenburg as the Celebrant.
Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery of Philip.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Monday, July 28, 2003 10:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota
CELEBRANT
Father Tony Grossenburg
LECTOR
Donna King
MUSIC
Marianne Frein– Organist
Maureen Palecek and Keith Emerson - Vocalists
USHERS
Gordon Flesner - Ron Johnson
PALLBEARERS
Mark Hamill - Jason Hamill
Matthew Jasper - Russell Jasper
Paul Freres - Adam Romkema
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Monday, July 28, 2003 10:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota