Funeral services for Viva Hope ""Vi"" Leonard, age 75, of Bison, SD, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 10, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bison, SD. Pastor Florence Hoff will officiate with burial in the Bison Cemetery.

Special music will be provided by Joyce Auckland, organist, Paulette Ellison, pianist, and the church choir.

Serving as casketbearers are Max Matthews, Don McKinstry Jr., Ryan Larsen, Cody Tupper, Taylor Tupper, Rod Larsen, Steve Larsen, and Justin Tupper.
A memorial has been established.

VIVA HOPE LARSEN ""Vi"" was born April 8, 1938 in Mitchell, SD to William and Anna (Marshall) Larsen. She attended a local country school and graduated from Kimball High School in 1956. She attended Colorado State University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1960. She began working as a Home Economic Agent in Sterling, Colorado.

Vi was united in marriage to Clifford Andrew Leonard on July 2, 1961 in Chamberlain, SD. They began their life together in Longmont, CO on Cliff's family farm. They moved to Lamar, CO in 1963 where Cliff was a county extension agent. They moved to Wray, CO in 1964 where they lived until 1983. During this time, Cliff continued to work as an extension agent and Vi owned and operated a fabric store from 1968 to 1983.

Cliff and Vi then moved to Rushville, NE in 1983 where Cliff was an extension agent for the University of Nebraska. Vi continued to sew and started a pie making business. In 1990, Cliff, Vi, and Becky moved to McIntosh were Vi began working as the Corson County Extension Home Economist. In 1994, Vi and Becky moved to Bison where Vi became the Perkins County Extension Home Economist until her retirement in 2004.

Vi continued to be active with her house remodeling, sewing, gardening, and just being a grandmother.

Throughout her life, Vi enjoyed providing leadership to many organizations including 4-H, Colorado Pork Producers (Porkettes), PEO, National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science, SD Presbyterian Women, the SD Presbyterian Committee on Ministry, and the Bison Library Board.
Vi passed away on Thursday morning, February 6, 2014 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD.

She is survived by her son, Clay Leonard, White Clay, NE; daughters, Brooke Tupper and her husband, Justin, St. Onge, SD and Becky Leonard, Redfield, SD; grandchildren, Emily Tupper, Maggie Tupper, Taylor Tupper and Cody Tupper; brothers, Rodney Larsen and his wife Lynn Ette, Kimball, SD, Stephen Larsen and his wife, Nancy, Kimball, SD; sister-in-law, Lois and her husband, Don Vynckier, Ft. Lupton, CO; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Vi was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; her parents, William and Anna Larsen, and Kate (Gunderson) Larsen; two brothers, Christian Larsen in infancy and Dallas Larsen; brothers-in-law, Pete Dirks and Jim Leonard; and one sister-in-law, Judy Henslee.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Bison and on Monday one hour prior to services .

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansonjenenfuneralhome.com