Lois Mae Leslie

Lois Leslie, loving wife, mother and grandmother, joined the Lord in Heaven on January 12, 2023 at Centerville Care and Rehab Center in Centerville, with her eldest child, Steve at her side. Lois was 85 years young.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Scandia Lutheran Church, 251 Broadway Street Centerville, South Dakota. A luncheon will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Public visitation will be on Thursday, January 19 from 5-7pm with a Prayer service following at 7pm at Scandia Lutheran Church.

Lois Mae Carlson was born on May 29, 1937 at the Carlson Family farm in Centerville, SD to Arthur B and Cora (Ven). She attended the Morningstar Country school and Centerville School, graduating from Centerville High School in 1955.

Lois attended Augustana University and business school for a time and worked at an insurance agency in Sioux Falls.

On December 23, 1961, Lois was united in Marriage with Chalmer S. Leslie in Las Vegas. They lived in Lakewood, California, before moving to Ventura, California and lovingly raising 5 children. Lois worked at Sears, Mervyns, Balboa Middle School, Buena and Ventura Schools and retired after over 25 years of service with the California Public School System. In 2021, Lois moved to the Centerville Care and Rehab Facility (CCRC).

Spirituality and actively participating in Church were very important parts of Lois’ life. She attended Skrefsrud Lutheran Church as a youth and was confirmed there. Lois attended Trinity Lutheran Church and was an active member in the bible study program there. When Lois moved back to Centerville, she attended Scandia Lutheran Church.

Lois loved to follow the LA Lakers and more so, the Los Angeles Dodgers. If they were on TV or the radio, she would have the game on, even while gardening in the yard. Music brought much joy to Lois and she loved to listen and sing in Church as well as always having music on at home. Lois loved to garden and cook. She always had something in the garden, and often baked apple pies, lemon, banana and zucchini breads as well as cookies and cakes. She also enjoyed birds and had several hummingbird feeders around her house. While at CCRC, Lois often sang during musical programs and loved having music on during the day and would often sing along as we did activities. Lois had an infectious spirit of joy and her smile often would captive all who knew her. Lois loved her grandchildren dearly and enjoyed every moment with them. She often would attend their school events as well as their graduation ceremonies from high school and college.

Grateful for having shared her life with them are her children; Steve (fiance’ Julie Ortner-Goodin) of Centerville; Doug (deceased); Jon of Ventura; Matt of Corbin, AR; and Michelle Morales (Angelo) of Santa Paula, CA; 4 grandchildren Kristopher Leslie of Camarillo, CA, Brianna Morales of Tucson, AZ, Amber Morales of Firestone, CO and David Morales of Santa Paula, CA. Additionally, she is survived by her sister, Ruby Knutson, brothers Jim (Glenda) and Ron (Ann) Carlson, all of Centerville. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Arthur B. Carlson Jr., sister Annabelle Andal, brother George Carlson, her husband of 27 years, Chalmer S. Leslie and her son, Douglas S. Leslie.

Our Family is grateful for the loving, gentle and thoughtful care of the Staff at Centerville Care and Rehab Center and St. Croix Hospice care.

A Celebration of Life service will also be planned in Ventura, California at a future date.

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in the name of Lois Leslie

Flowers can be ordered at Flowers by Bob in Beresford, SD at (605) 763-5083