Leona B. Hedge, age 97, of Wessington, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller.

Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 AM, Thursday, December 22, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron. Watch Leona's service here. Burial will be in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery at Wessington.

View Leona's Funeral Folder

Visitation was held from 1:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday, December 21, at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with her family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.  A Rosary and Wake Service was held at 6:30 PM, Wednesday evening, at Kuhler Funeral Home.

Leona Bernice Runge was born March 2, 1925, to August and Bertha (Plasmier) Runge at Kimball, South Dakota. At an early age, the family moved to Minnesota. She attended school at Arco and Tyler, Minnesota, and graduated from Tyler High School.

She married Vernon Hedge on March 2, 1943, at St. Dionysius Church at Tyler, Minnesota. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Wessington, South Dakota, and lived on various farms. They were blessed with almost 60 years together and six children.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Church, St. Joseph's Altar Society, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and a former member of Jolly Quilters Club.

She is survived by her six children, Sharon (Ray) Ross of Wessington, Linda (Leonard) Hancock of Mt. Vernon, Dean (Mary Ann) Hedge of Wessington, Kent (Sharon) Hedge of Huron, Diane (Robert) Kokesh of Woonsocket and Randy (Karen) Hedge of Custer; one sister, Gloria Mundt of Shakopee, Minnesota; nineteen grandchildren; innumerable great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Runge and Bonnie Runge; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2002; her parents; three grandsons, Justin Hedge, Darwin and Bradley Hancock; four brothers, Donald, Norman, Lawrence and Richard Runge; four sisters, Violet Wells, Lorraine Mehling, Jean Langbehn and Betty Hansen; five brothers-in-law, Richard Mehling, Eugene Wells, Harold Langbehn, Dean Hansen and Jack Mundt; two sisters-in-law, Florence and Mary Runge; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.

View Leona's Floral Arrangements