Leona Dout

Funeral services for Leona Dout, 89, were Jan. 10, 1997, at Memorial United Methodist Church in Harrison, Neb., with the Rev. Neil Kloppenborg officiating. Burial was in the Harrison Community Cemetery. Memorials are to the Memorial United Methodist Church or to the donor's choice. She died at Legend Buttes Hospital in Crawford, Neb., Jan. 7, 1997.

She was born Aug. 5, 1908, in the Pullen home between Glen and Fort Robinson to Fred and Pearl (Mason) Pullen. She was the fourth of the 10 children.

She attended school east of Glen until 1919 when her family moved to the Warbonnet Ranch, north of Harrison. While living there, she finished school at district 76.

She married Clarence Dout Sept. 14, 1925, at the Sioux County Courthouse. After they were married, they lived on the Dout ranch north of Harrison. To this union, four children were born. later they adopted Phyllis' son.

She lived in Harrison while her daughters attended school. During this time, to supplement her income, she made potato chips and oatmeal corn, which she sold to local stores and bars.

She took a correspondence course from the Chicago School of Nursing. After completing the course, she opened the "Dout Maternity Home" in Harrison. At times there was a doctor in Harrison and two doctors from Lusk.

The doctors would come to her home to deliver babies. However, she delivered two babies before the doctors arrived. The mothers and babies stayed with her for 10 days. A total of 65 babies were born in her kitchen, including one set of twins and one stillborn baby girl.

In 1945, when daughter Phyllis graduated from high school, Leona retired from the maternity home business and moved back to the ranch.

In 1963, she and her husband purchased the "Hoover Place," where the couple lived until the time of his death in 1973.

She continued to live on the Hoover Place until February 1994, when she moved to Ponderosa Villa in Crawford, Neb., as she was no longer able to care for herself.

After his death, she continued to manage the ranch. She had a large garden, raised chickens, rode horses and helped in the hay field during World War II, when help was hard to find.

She loved to work on her handicrafts and made many beautiful bedspreads, afghans and woven wicker baskets. She loved to fish, hunt and guide deer hunters during the annual fall season.

She was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church in Harrison, and a charter member of the Order of Eastern Star, Sioux County Chapter #319 of Harrison.

She was preceded in death by her husband; sons Raymond Eugene and Roxie Craig, both of whom died in infancy; her parents; all of her brothers and sisters; and son-in-law John Chlecq.

Survivors include daughters Phyllis Chlecq of Hot Springs, S.D., Doris Wickersham and husband Norrie, of Harrison; adopted son Ray Dout, of Hot Springs; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; and a host of family and friends.

Chamberlain Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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