Lenora Pawlowski

Lenora Cora Pawlowski went to her heavenly home at the age of 88 on March 19, 2024, where she previously resided at Weskota Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Saturday.

Lenora, and her twin sister Leona, were born on August 30, 1935 in Wessington Springs to Carl and Magdalena (Mettler) Roduner. She was baptized on July 5, 1936, and confirmed on June 25, 1950.

Lenora attended Wessington Springs High School, where her path crossed with a young man named Lyle Pawlowski. After a chance meeting, Lenora and Lyle began dating during her junior year.

She graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1954, then pursued her education at Dakota State University in Madison before transferring to Springfield, South Dakota, where she earned her two-year teaching certificate. Lenora began teaching in a oneroom school at the Willman Schoolhouse in 1956.

On June 1, 1958, Lenora married the love of her life, Lyle Pawlowski, in Wessington Springs. They settled in rural Woonsocket before moving to their farm in rural Buffalo County in 1963. Lenora paused her teaching career to raise their family, which grew to include four children: Lola, Lisa, Lee, and Lori.

Lenora was a dedicated mother, teaching her children essential life skills such as gardening and sewing. She was a 4-H leader for the Buffalo County Rangers and the Valley Springs Rustlers 4-H clubs. She was actively involved in Zion Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, quilting, and assisting with the annual pancake supper. Lenora always enjoyed cooking and serving others. Lenora later returned to teaching, spending one year in Gann Valley and 12 years at the Spring Valley Colony in rural Jerauld County.

Lenora enjoyed various activities, including spending time with the Senior Citizens group, participating in Red Hat events, Extension Club, and working as an Apartment Dining Aide at Weskota Manor for ten years. She kept their social calendar full of activities for her and Lyle to attend during their retirement years. She enjoyed summers as a campground host with Lyle at West Bend State Park, where they made friends they eagerly awaited reuniting with each year.

Lenora is survived by her husband of 65 years, Lyle; her children, Lola (Paul) Twedt, Lisa (Jack) Davis, Lee (Tina) Pawlowski, and Lori (JJ) Lafferty; ten grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; her sisters Arlena Hauck, Luella Teveldal, and her twin sister, Leona (Lu) Glaser; along with in-laws Kenieth Pawlowski, Joe & Valetta Fee, and Glen and Cindi Pawlowski along with many loved cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and spouses, Ray & Doris Roduner and Melvin & Evelyn Roduner, a sisterin- law, Betty Pawlowski and two brothers-in-law, Leonard Teveldal and Alfred Hauck.

Arrangements are with Basham Funeral Services in Wessington Springs.