Britton - The funeral for Leora Bocker will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, at the United Methodist Church of Britton, with the Reverend Sara Sorensen officiating. Burial will be in the Britton Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at the Price Funeral Chapel of Britton, and one hour preceding the funeral at the church on Friday. Leora died Monday, Dec. 25, 2006, at ManorCare in Aberdeen at the age of 82. Leora Edith Berry was born April 3, 1924, at Crow Lake, S.D., to George and Nellie (Atkinson) Berry. The family later moved to Kimball, S.D., where she attended and graduated from high school. She met Raymond Bocker, who was working at the C.C.C. camp at Chamberlain. They were married at the Presbyterian Manse by Reverend Irwin. They became the parents of four children. They lived in the Claremont area for a period of time, and Leora was known for her birthday and wedding cakes. She was a member and past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, and a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, while Ray served as Scout Master. They belonged to the United Methodist Church first at Claremont, and later at Britton, after they moved there. She worked for Dr. Engstrom, a Britton dentist, and later at a number of clothing stores in Britton. She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star. Leora was from a very musical family, and quite musical herself. She loved to dance and square-dance. She and Ray both enjoyed traveling and, through their family, experienced trips to England, Germany, Mexico and much of the United States. Later in life, they enjoyed doing craft projects together - Ray would do the woodworking, and Leora would do the finishing and painting. They had crafts available in many places. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2001, and their 65th in 2006. In April 2001, Leora moved to Wheatcrest Hills in Britton, and to ManorCare in Aberdeen later that year. Survivors include her husband, Ray Bocker Sr. of Britton; two sons: Edmond J. Bocker of Pensacola, Fla., and Allen Bocker (Delores Walters) of O'Fallen, Ill.; a daughter, Peggy Ann (Bob) Shaffer of Dallas, Texas; a sister, Marie Koranda of Yankton, S.D.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Pam Bocker of Aberdeen. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Raymond J. Bocker Jr. in September 2002; five sisters; and two brothers. Music for the funeral will be provided by Doris Olson, organist, and Vicki Henschel, soloist. Casketbearers will be Wayne Cutler, Roy Winder, Allan Seibel, Ken Stillson, Jim Bush and Ron Jarrett.
Published in the Aberdeen News on 12/28/2006.