Leona Grace Kokesh

Leona Grace Kokesh, 90, Vermillion, went to be with Jesus on April 1, 2021 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Leona was born June 15, 1930 to Frank and Chloe (VanOrmer) Moffatt in Geddes, SD. In her early years she and her family moved to Minnesota and later back to Geddes. Leona grew up with horses and she loved them. Leona graduated from Platte High School in 1948. Leona moved to Vermillion and worked as a phone operator for North Western Bell Telephone Company from 1954 to 1955, then moved to the Wagner North Western Bell Telephone Company and worked from 1955 to 1965.
She met and married Helmuth (Duke) Schmoll in Yankton on December 19, 1965. They had three children together, Larry (Lisa) Schmoll, Rapid City – Tiffany and Lela Schmoll, Elizabeth and Austin; Perry (Cathie) Schmoll, Newport News, VA – Paige (Kevin) Jeffers and Sawyer Schmoll, Emily; Jerry Schmoll, Baltic – Jazzy. Leona took great pride in her family. Leona worked at the Good Samaritan Home in Tyndall from 1987 to 2001. She met Roy Kokesh at church and married him on July 6, 2002 in Yankton. Leona welcomed Roy’s children and their families into her family.
Leona was a very kind and loving wife, mom, grandma and friend. She was very faithful and involved in her church and will be greatly missed by all. Leona loved to plant flowers and enjoyed all of God’s beauty.
Leona is survived by her husband, Roy; children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; 7 step children, Larry Kokesh, Virginia Montesrin, Doug Kokesh, Dennis (Tammy) Kokesh, Allen (Kristi) Kokesh, Tim (Jennifer) Kokesh and Jaime Kokesh; 24 step grandchildren, Josh, Sarah, Rachael, Christine, Doug Jr., Jon, Dan, Zach, Jake, Karissa, Kristopher, Chaz, Tom, Anna, Tim Jr., Lilly, Hailey, Aurora, Destiny, Ashley, Amber, Andrea, Abby and Gabby; 25 step great grandchildren; 2 step great great grandchildren; sister-in-law Ione Moffatt, Littleton, CO and family – Sally (Don) Stewart, Sandee Ramenek and family, Robert (Kelli) Moffatt and family, Debra Moffatt and family; niece Nancy Moffatt, Brooklyn, NY.
Leona was proceeded in death by her parents, Frank and Chloe Moffatt; her husband, Helmuth Schmoll; daughter Lela Mae Boyden; step grandson Allen Kokesh Jr.; brother and sister-in-law Frank Jr. and Helen Moffatt Willcuts; brother Robert (Bob) Moffatt; nephew Jim Ramenek and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.