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Funeral services for Leota Mickelson, 93, of McLaughlin will be at 10:30 AM, MT, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the UCC Church in McLaughlin. Burial will be in the church cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Leota passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Leota Banek was born on June 9 ^th , 1924 in McLaughlin SD to John and Louisa (Knodel) Banek. She grew up on her parents' farm two miles south of McLaughlin where she attended McLaughlin School and later graduated with the class of 1942.

While attending a rodeo in McLaughlin, she met John Mickelson. The two began dating and eventually moved to South Carolina where John was stationed in the Army. They were married on base on November 28, 1946.

John was later transferred and they moved to White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico. After John was honorably discharged from the Army, the two returned to McLaughlin where they began farming. Leota was very active in the farm work and logged countless behind the wheel of a grain truck. During this time, she was also the primary caregiver for her live-in, elderly parents.

In 1960, John and Leota built McLaughlin's first bowling alley, Leisure Lanes. Thanks to Leota's home cooked Sunday meals, the food was as popular as the bowling.

From Montana to Mexico, John and Leota enjoyed traveling in their airstream as a couple as well as part of a caravan group. They also loved to entertain and host groups of friends and family for dinners and cocktail parties as well as spending lots of time at the farm with Michael, Diane and the grandkids.

After John's passing in 1987, Leota continued living in McLaughlin and spent her time traveling with friends, watching her grandchildren grow and meticulously maintaining her yard. Leota had a passion for gardening and took great pride in her perfectly groomed flower beds.

Leota was member of the United Church of Christ in McLaughlin and also a member of the Eastern Star. She was a strong woman who survived breast cancer and lived on her own in her home in McLaughlin until 2011 when she went to live at the Mobridge Care Center.

She is survived by her son; Mike (Diane) Mickelson of McLaughlin, four grandchildren; Wayne (Doville) Mickelson of Lincoln, ND, Jackie (Jason) Keller of Mobridge, SD, Denise Mickelson of San Diego, CA, Carrie (Judd) Van Dusen of Minneapolis, MN. Great-Grandchildren; Ellie and John Mickelson, Emma, Alex and Sophie Keller, Olivia Mickelson, and Harper Van Dusen. One sister-in-law; Anna Jane Mickelson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leota was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, three sisters and three brothers.