Leora May (Bierman) Burgee was born May 15, 1924, to Fred and Bertha (Jost) Bierman. Leora was born on the family homestead near Isabel, SD, and was the fourth child of six born into her family. She, along with her siblings, attended the Bloom school from the 1st grade to the 9th grade. After completing the 9th grade, Leora stayed home on the farm one school year to help with the family chores. Leora then attended 10th grade to 12th grade at Isabel High School, graduating in May 1943.

Leora met Roland "Dude" Burgee in 1945. They were married on June 27, 1950, in Isabel, SD. To this union, two children were born; Kerry Allen in 1951 and Michael Joe in 1957. When Michael was an infant, Leora and Dude moved to the Dugal place near Isabel and in 1961, Leora and Dude moved to Dupree. It was there they made their life and considered Dupree their home.

Leora began her career as a teacher in 1943. She taught at several schools including VanDusen, Bloom, McIntosh, Lantry, and Dupree. In 1985, Leora received her Master's Degree from Northern State at the young age of 59. She then was the Dupree School Elementary Principal for three years, retiring in 1989. Leora had an extreme dedication to education, which was something she stressed to every child she encountered.

Leora loved to cook and bake. She could go into a kitchen with a handful of flour to return with the most delicious cake. Leora loved to make cakes and made cakes for every occasion and then some. She took pride in each cake she made and never made one alike. It was with great joy she made each of her children and grandchildren their yearly birthday cake and her final wedding cake was that of her granddaughters in 2003.

Leora had a steady hand and often found herself at her beloved sewing machine. She made the majority of her dresses and blouses when she taught school. She frequently made her children and grandchildren clothes as well. When each grandchild graduated from high school, Leora presented them with a quilt, hand sewn and hand quilted. Each quilt was unique to the child, and Leora would say "Millions of stitches with you in mind were carefully sewn for a quilt - one of a kind."

Leora loved her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She enjoyed company and would always "whip something up quick." The coffee pot was always on and as her grandchildren would leave, she would say "Thank you for coming to see your ole' fat grandma." Leora could recite poetry and caddy sayings that she learned as a youngster, finding something to fit each moment. Her mind was that of a steel trap and she would often awe her company by recalling times, dates, and memories of each person. A quote Leora would say and she lived by is "what we send into the lives of others will come back to our own."

Leora was a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Merifu Extension Club, and the Dupree Senior Center. She enjoyed a good hand of cards, dominos, Wheel of Fortune, and often found herself a contestant on Jeopardy via her living room chair. Leora loved the color green, the smells of fresh cut hay and fried chicken, climbing into bed at night after the linens had been washed and hung in the sunshine, pink Dove soap, the pitter patter of rain, and a good pair of walking shoes.

After Dude's passing in 1990, Leora remained in the Dupree area until July 2005. Following a back surgery, she was unable to return home and made her new home at Edgewood Vista in Spearfish. She resided there until November 2010, when she moved to Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Leora May (Bierman) Burgee died Sunday, November 13, 2016, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Leora is survived by her children, Kerry (Diane) Burgee of Dupree, SD, and Michael (Debbie) Burgee of Black Hawk, SD; her grandchildren, Justin Burgee and Marty Burgee of Dupree, SD, JoLynn (Dustin) Bostrom of Sturgis, SD, and Susan (Albert) Daou of Bismarck, ND, as well as her great-grandchildren, Taylor and Ty Burgee, Ryne and Owen Bostrom, and Christopher Daou. She is also survived by her brother, Ronald (Evelyn) Bierman, who reside on her parent's original homestead near Isabel, SD; sister-in-law, Beverly Hayward, Billings MT; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and relatives.

Leora was preceded in death by her husband, Dude; her parents, Fred and Bertha; her brother, Robert; and her sisters, Viola, Neoma, and Paula.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 16, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis, SD, with Pastor Nick Haasch officiating. Burial will be at Black Hills National cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

A memorial has been established to Trinity Lutheran Church.