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David Meier
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Leona H. (Potts) Petersen

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YANKTON, S.D. — Leona H. (Potts) Petersen, 88, Yankton, S.D., formerly of Hartington, died at her residence July 24, 2020, surrounded by her family.

Visitation and a vigil service were Tuesday at the church, with visitation continuing Wednesday, one hour prior to services.

Mass of Christian burial will be July 29, at 10 a.m., at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Jim Keiter and Acolyte Adam Pinkelman officiating.

Facemasks and social distancing will be observed and required for the visitation and funeral. Services will also be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live/.

Burial will be at the St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington.

Pallbearers will be Lee Potts, Nick Wolfe, Ryan Wolfe, Tyler Potts, Jason Potts, Josh Pinkelman, Jacob Potts, Caden Potts, Nathan Potts and Colin Potts.

Honorary pallbearers will be Leona’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

Leona H. was born May 14, 1932, in Hartington, to John and Wilhelmina (Wieseler) Feilmeier. She grew up in Hartington and graduated from Holy Trinity High School, Hartington. Leona’s mother died when she was eight years old and then Adeline Sudbeck married her father and raised her along with 15 other siblings. Leona married James Donald Potts Sept. 9, 1952, in Hartington. She and Jim raised a family of 15 children on a farm southwest of Hartington. Jim died Feb. 6, 1991, at the age of 62. Leona moved to Hartington until she married Bernard “Bob” Petersen Jan. 28, 2000. They moved to Yankton and shared 10 years together until Bob died July 21, 2010, at the age of 80.

Leona was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Yankton. Leona worked at the Holy Trinity school cafeteria and the Hartington Senior Center. She belonged to the Sunnybrook Card Club, bowled, and enjoyed golf and working puzzles. Leona loved playing Mahjong with her Yankton friends every Thursday, from 1-4 p.m., and was able to enjoy doing so until the time of her stroke.

Leona’s many talents included gardening and canning, cooking, baking, sewing clothing, making quilts for her children and grandchildren, crocheting, knitting, and hardanger embroidery. Leona is a cancer survivor after being diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 80.

Leona is survived by her 15 children and spouses, Jim (Joani) Potts, Hartington; Michael (Brenda) Potts, Norfolk; Mark Potts, Norfolk; MaryKay (Jerry) Frerichs, Elkhorn; Karen (Terry) Wolfe, Norfolk; Diane Hopkins, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Judy (Marvin) Linhorst, Waco; Janice (Kerry) Hefner, Coleridge; David (Carol) Potts, Hartington; Bill (Rachel) Potts, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Stephen Potts and Gretchen Gissel, Walton; Janelle (David) Heikes, Hartington; Lynette (Brian) Pinkelman, Bow Valley; Tim (Jodi) Potts, Blair; and Tom (Robin) Potts, Hartington; 41 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; five brothers, George Feilmeier, Yankton, S.D.; Leonard Feilmeier, Minnesota; Jerome Feilmeier, Hartington; Harry (Mary Gay) Feilmeier, Hartington; Chuck (Bev) Feilmeier, Hartington; seven sisters, Wilhelmina Boecker, Bloomfield; Ann (Jay) Walz, Ariz.; Aggie Hochstein, St. Helena; Alice Klug, Hartington; Charleen (Dennis) Meyer, Syracuse, Mo.; Ruth Heine, Bow Valley; Linda (Dale) Trenhaile, Yankton, S.D.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John, Wilhelmina and Adeline Feilmeier; two husbands, James Potts and Bob Petersen; daughter-in-law, Angie Potts; grandchildren, Eric Potts and Mary Pinkelman; great-grandson, Connor Norgelas; siblings, John Feilmeier, Mary Jansen and Sally Promes; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Feilmeier, Loraine Feilmeier, Mary Lou Feilmeier and Eleanor Feilmeier; and brothers-in-law, Leonard Jansen, Herbert Boecker, Donald Klug, William Jaeger, Daryl Hochstein and Richard Heine.