Leona Hughes

Leona Hughes, 85, of Miller, passed away Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating. Burial followed at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. Luncheon followed the burial at the First Baptist Church, Miller.  Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2018 at Reck Funeral Home, Miller.

Leona was born to Robert and Flossie (Strain) Maxwell on April 1, 1932 in Loyal, Oklahoma. She grew up in Loyal on their homestead and attended school there until high school. They then moved to Enid where she “courted” and married her lifelong sweetheart, Jack Hughes, on December 31, 1949. To this wonderful marriage, were born four children: Bill, Jackie, John, and Brenda.

Leona was a dedicated partner and helpmate to her husband and followed him on the grain harvest for years from Texas to Montana to Ree Heights, SD, where they put down roots in 1970. They farmed and ranched for over 40 years together and retired to Miller, SD in 2011.

Leona was an excellent cook, which was very important when feeding a hungry family, harvest crew, and hired men. She was especially famous for her pies, homemade bread, and rolls. She learned many of her cooking skills from her mother who was an excellent cook as well. Fortunately, she passed those skills to her daughters who will be forever grateful to her for that. She also showed her children and grandchildren pride, respect, and faith in God. She called everyone “Honey” and was loving and respectful to everyone she met.

Leona loved music which she learned from her Dad. In their younger years, the family had a band and all family members played different instruments. She learned to play the piano by ear and we all enjoyed listening to her play. Her grandchildren loved to join in with their guitars or instruments, nothing made her happier.

She took much pride in her home and yards and always saw to it that they were neat and clean. She would often be seen on her ride-on mower loving the solitude and quiet of her farm.

Fortunate to have shared her life with her are her husband, Jack of 68 years; her four children: Bill (Tonna) Hughes of Ree Heights, Jackie (Jim) Keller of Trail City, John (Betty) Hughes of Whitewood, and Brenda (Ron) Pechacek of Burnet, TX; fourteen grandchildren: Jennifer (Nathan) McIntosh, Jessica (Greg) Naderi, BJ (Brooks Alexander) Hughes, Abigail (Jerry) Hogg, Janell Rath, Jason (Jackie) Keller, Jaime (Russell) Wiese, Leigh Ann (Tommy) Ojeda, Jeff (JennLyn) Hughes, Lynette Jaskela, Josh (Mikka) Pechacek, Jodi Peterson, Lindsey (John) Roy, and Allyssa (Rick) Eschenbaum; 35 great grandchildren; one sister, Thelma (Carl) Becker of la Grange, GA; twin brothers: Bill and Bob (Marlene) Maxwell of Oklahoma City, OK; many nieces and nephews; and a special friend and caretaker, Jenise Krick.

Leona was greeted at heaven’s gate by her parents, Flossie and Robert; her sister-in-law, Betty Maxwell; her mother and father-in-law, Bill and Ova Hughes; and many aunts and uncles.

She will be dearly missed but she is free of her earthy pain and in the arms of Jesus.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Leona’s arrangements.