Leona Sunshine Phelps

She was born on April 11, 1919 on the family farm in rural Bradley, the daughter of William and Nettie (Jacobson) Peterson.  Leona grew up with seven older brothers and one younger sister.  Her dear mother had rheumatoid arthritis, so when Leona was just five years old, she taught her to bake bread. She would bake six or seven big loaves of bread every morning to feed the family. She also learned to cook at a very young age.  She was known to bake a great sour cream raisin pie which her brothers referred to as the "Sunshine Special" after her middle name. Leona's father taught her to read music and play an old pump organ when she was just a little girl. All of the children learned to play various instruments so formed a family band and they played for dances and at home each evening just for fun.  As a young woman she was hired to coach a ladies baseball team in Clark.

On October 17, 1939 she was united in marriage to Glenn Phelps at Clark.  They lived and farmed north of Bradley for a short time before moving to the farm east of Bradley where they lived and farmed until retiring in 1977.  They enjoyed square dancing and both loved music. They continued living on the farm until Glenn's health failed in 2001.

Leona had a long career in music.  She played the piano, accordion, and organ.  At Bradley School, Leona played for Community Club and helped direct and play for the music class.  She has given music lessons and was the pianist/organist for Bradley and Garden City churches. She played music at the nursing home in Watertown, for dances in Bradley, and for many funerals and other events.  A very special time in her musical career was in her early 70's when she was hired to play dinner music at Lake Shore Supper Club in Watertown.  Also during these years, Leona and two ladies from Crocker formed the "Sunshine Trio."  She also formed a band called the Golden Age with two gentleman musicians.  At the age of 84, Leona received the Helping Hands award from Bethesda Nursing Home and Heritage Village in Webster for sharing her gift of music with the residents.

Her children's fondest memories are of the time back on the farm when Leona would play piano and the girls would gather around her and sing.  She loved to play hymns all afternoon on Sunday's worshipping her Lord, Jesus Christ.  She passed her love of music on to her children.

Preceding her in death was her husband Glenn Phelps, her parents, and siblings, Carrell Peterson, Mason Peterson, Basil Peterson, Willard Peterson (in infancy), Nina Elvilda Peterson (in infancy), Wilber Peterson, Delmer Peterson, Floyd Peterson, Leslie Peterson, and grand-daughter Laura (Phelps) Deitsch.

Grateful for having shared in her life are children, Ashley (Bud) Phelps and Marlyce (deceased) of Ft. Pierre, SD, Nina Grout of Pierre, SD, Linda Briggs and husband Roger of Rapid City, SD, Kathy Audus of Cedar Rapids, IA and Debra Bucy and husband Kelly of Sioux City, IA; 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grand-children. She is also survived by a sister Ethel Petrich.