Irene M. Leonard

Irene, who lived nearly all of her life in Ida County, Iowa was born to John Grell Helkenn and Mary (Schubert) Helkenn on November 28, 1914 on a farm near Raymond, South Dakota. John and Mary Helkenn had moved to South Dakota after their marriage in Cherokee, Iowa in 1909. After seven years of drought and poor crops in South Dakota and one year on a farm near Harris, Iowa, they returned to the Helkenn family farm six miles northwest of Galva where John had grown up. Irene and her five brothers and four sisters grew up on that farm and attended the nearby one-room country school through 8th grade. At times, the teacher boarded with the Helkenns because their house was large and close to the school. Their household was a lively place with lots of parties including neighborhood dances during the winter when farm workload was not so intense. Family card games were regular entertainment during the evenings. At Mary Helkenn’s urging, the family became active in the rural Silver Methodist Church, located 8 miles northwest of Holstein. After completing 8th grade, Irene attended Holstein High School, boarding with relatives in town during the school year, because of the rigors of rural transportation in winter in Iowa at the time. A good student, Irene also was captain of the girl’s basketball team in her senior year. She graduated from Holstein High School in 1932.

Irene Helkenn married Elvin Leonard in 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression. Wedding gifts included a flock of chickens and a milk cow as well as essential household items. The couple settled into the farm seven miles northwest of Holstein, where Elvin had been born. In the early years, Elvin worked for his father at a wage of $50/month. Their home, like many rural houses of the time, was rather Spartan in that it lacked indoor plumbing and central heating. But they made do, prospered, and raised a family. They were able to buy the farm from the Hiram Leonard Estate in 1941. Irene’s father and brother, John and Donald Helkenn, expanded and modernized the Leonard farm home in 1948, and Elvin and Irene continued to live there until 1979 when Elvin retired from farming and they moved to town. In town Irene enjoyed richer opportunities for socializing and participating in sports such as golf, tennis and volleyball. She loved card games, including bridge, 500, euchre and cribbage. Also, she continued a family tradition from her childhood by organizing games of Diamond-7 with her children, grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren. Irene was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Holstein for most of her adult life. She served in various women’s groups and helped with Sunday school classes.

In the years after the death of her husband Elvin (2004), afflictions of age and arthritis made it difficult for her to continue caring for herself and her home, so she moved to the assisted living facilities at Char-Mac in 2007. Three years later she moved for the last time to the Good Samaritan Center.

Like her father, Irene managed her life with such quiet efficiency and good humor that it seemed almost effortless to those around her even under difficult circumstances. Like her father, she was a pragmatic person who did what needed to be done without a lot of fuss. She shared her mother’s cheerfulness and unbounded love of family. Although the early years on the farm were not easy, she was able to transcend the difficulties with sophistication and civility. By example, she instilled in her children her love of reading and respect for education, manners and good citizenship. If she had a fault, it was in being overly modest about her own abilities and contributions. She probably never realized how much of a positive impact she had on her family, friends and others who knew her during her long lifetime.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Elvin in 2004; her parents; five brothers; three sisters; and one grandson.

She is survived by six children, David Leonard of Mondamin, IA, Gary Leonard of Austin, MN, Kurt Leonard of Shoreview, MN, Christine Wiese of Holstein, IA, Irene Richardson of Monument, CO and John Leonard of Ely, MN; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Hilda Beyer, a long-time Holstein resident currently living in Galesville, WI.