Cleo Popovich, age 89, of Huron, died Friday, March 6, 2015, at the SunQuest Healthcare Center. Her funeral service was at 3:00 PM, Wednesday, March 11th, at the Kuhler Funeral Home.
Cleo Gayle Ellsworth was born August 28, 1925, to Dr. N. R. and Alma K. (Juhl) Ellsworth at Terril, Iowa. She was their second child, following her brother, Nelson Ellsworth, Jr. She received a degree in nursing at Sioux City, Iowa and worked for a short time as a registered nurse.
On October 26, 1944, Cleo married the love of her life, Anthony "Tom" Popovich at La Crosse, Wisconsin. They had 70 years together. She and Tom moved to Minneapolis where they adopted their only child, Nancy Carole, but they always referred to her as "Sarah Jane". They had lived in Huron since 1953.
Cleo was an avid gardener and cook and she enjoyed playing bridge. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandsons.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Tom of Huron; her daughter, Nancy Hook of Rapid City; two grandsons, Gregg (Josh Rundell) Hook and A.J. "Drew" (Amy) Hook, all of Rapid City; and two great-grandchildren, Ian and AJ "Asher" Hook.
Cleo's family wishes to thank all the staff at SunQuest Healthcare Center for the loving care they gave her in her last few monthh. "What a wonderful life it has been."