Leola Mae Ulmer, 74, of Gregory, passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018, peacefully at home surrounded by her family. 

Visitation and a prayer service were held Friday, April 20, at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory. The funeral was held on Saturday, April 21, at the same church with Pastor Marcus Ring officiating.

Leola Mae Ulmer was born on Feb. 9, 1944, to Jerry and Esther (Slykhuis) Vavruska in Gregory. She grew up on different farms south of Gregory with her siblings, Lois (Ron) Sinclair, Larry (Carol) Vavruska and Lucille Bradley. 

In 1960 she married a neighbor boy, Larry Ulmer, and to this union four children were born Cindy, Jeffrey, Carla and Timothy.

Larry and Leola moved to Kadoka shortly after their marriage where Larry worked on the missile sites. They then returned to the Gregory area where they worked on various farms, and in 1969, they moved to the Naper area. 

In 1975 they purchased their own farm southwest of Naper and also milked cows. In 2000, they sold the farm and moved to Gregory. In 2003, they bought a farm and moved to Freeman, and then moved back to Gregory in 2009.

Leola worked for many years along side Larry working on the farm and milking cows. She obtaind her Nursing Assistant Certification and worked at Butte Healthcare Center. While in Gregory, she worked at the Gregory Hospital and also at Silver Threads. While they lived in Freeman, she was employed at Bormann Manor in Parkston.

Leola enjoyed her garden while she was still able, putting together puzzles and reading. She also enjoyed going out with her coffee group and visitis from her special “adopted sister” Doris Olson. 

She is survived by her husband, Larry of Gregory; four children: Cindy (Rylan) Lindgren of Fairfax, Jeffrey (Debbie) Ulmer of Atlanta, Ga., Carla (Vic) Warnke of Gregory, and Timothy Ulmer (Kallene) of Woonsocket; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and her four siblings. 

Leola was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Mark Bradley; parents-in-law, Albert and Hilda Ulmer; brothers-in-law, Wayne and Harold Ulmer; and sister-in-law, Irma Ulmer.