Neoma Leppke

Neoma Leppke, 83, of Aberdeen and formerly of Wecota, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the Bethesda Home in Aberdeen.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 5, 2016 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Aberdeen with Pastor Samuel Bobby presiding. Burial followed in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Wecota. Prayer service was held at  7:00 p.m., Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton with Pastor Timothy Koch presiding.

Neoma K. Leppke, daughter of the late Wilhem “Max” Leppke and Elizabeth (Bettman) Leppke was born March 29, 1933 in the house she grew up in on the family farm in Wecota, South Dakota. She was baptized in Christ at the Wecota Immanuel Lutheran Church where she would later confirm her life in Christ.

She attended Wecota’s one room school house until the 8^th grade, at which time she entered Cresbard High School. After graduating high school in 1951, she attended Aberdeen School of Commerce, for a one-year course. Upon her graduation in 1952 she began her thirty-one-year career as a secretary/procurement clerk with the U.S. Government working in seven different agencies and five different locations to include Aberdeen, South Dakota; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nemo, South Dakota; and Saipan, one of the Mariana Islands of the Pacific Ocean. She worked at the Headquarters of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Territories on Saipan Island.

Neoma returned to Aberdeen in 1969, and worked at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare – Indian Health Services. She undertook the task of being caretaker during the latter days of the lives of her father, Max, and mother, Elizabeth. She retired in 1984 to her home in Aberdeen. During her retirement she enjoyed traveling around the world, visiting other countries, some of which she returned to many times. She never married, however, she looked upon her many nieces and nephews as her children, and often brought back gifts from her many travels or included them in her travels. She volunteered for the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, often helping with funerals and assisting in the office when she could. Neoma was a Breast Cancer Survivor and championed the cause to find a cure. She had always wanted a large orange striped cat when she retired and adopted one from the Aberdeen Area Humane Society where she also volunteered. Tiger was her special companion during her retirement and he was well spoiled. Neoma was an avid bowler and enjoyed playing cards with her friends, as well as board games with her family. She will be remembered for her love of chocolate. She moved from her home in Aberdeen to Bethesda Living Complex in 2002, where she continued to live until her passing on August 31, 2016.

Neoma is survived by her sister, Delores (Leppke) Flanigan; brother, Delbert (Gretchen) Leppke and her many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Max Leppke and Elizabeth (Bettman) Leppke; one nephew, Brent Flanigan; and her brother-in-law Don (Delores) Flanigan.

Memorials may be sent to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wecota, or the American Cancer Society.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Neoma’s arrangements.