Leonida Schwarz, 99 of Wagner and formerly of Avon

Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner from 2 pm to 7 pm Friday and continue Saturday from 11 am to the time of service at the church in Avon.

Leonida Gertrude Schwarz, daughter of Christoff and Rosina (Baier) Zeitner, was born February 9, 1909 at Armour, SD. She died Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Leonida attained the age of 99 years, one month and three days.

Leonida was baptized on March 9, 1909 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, rural Armour, and confirmed there on May 20, 1923 by Pastor Paul Bunge.

Leonida attended Pleasant Valley Rural School northeast of Armour through the eighth grade. She worked as a clerk at the Pleasant Valley Country Store near her home and also worked at the Parkston Bakery for three years prior to her marriage and raising of her family.

Leonida married Henry Schwarz on January 17, 1932 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. She and Henry farmed three miles south of Avon on the Schwarz family farm. Henry died October 22, 1984. Leonida stayed on the farm 11 more years and then moved into the West Side Estate Apartments in Wagner on October 1, 1995.

Leonida joined the Zion Lutheran Church in Avon on February 9, 1932. She joined the Avon Zion Lutheran LWML on February 1, 1933 and became an honorary member in 1985. When Leonida moved to Wagner, she transferred her membership to St. John Lutheran Church in October of 1995.

Leonida was a member of the Avon Flower Club from 1953 to 2002. She enjoyed sewing, piecing and quilting quilts, crocheting afghans, gardening, flowers and traveling. She will be remembered for her strong faith, love of family and always taking time for others.

Thankful for having shared her life are her children: DeLores and husband LaVerle Youngbluth of Hot Springs, Arnold and wife, Karen of Pierre, Charlotte and husband Donald Fredrich of Wagner, Carole Lee and husband John Knight of Rapid City, and Rosetta and husband Richard Robinson of Yankton; 16 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; and many relatives and friends.

Leonida was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; still born son who died October 30, 1938; parents; step mother, Mathilda; two brothers: Arthur and wife, Martha and infant brother Richard.