ONIDA, SD – Leah Jean Hertel, 93, passed away March 5, 2024 in Pierre. Visitation will be held 5:00-6:00pm, Sunday, March 17, 2024 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, concluding with a Rosary/Prayer Service at 6:00pm. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00am, Monday, March 18, 2024 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Burial will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blunt.

Leah Jean Main was born January 21, 1931 to Harvey and Mildred (Kircher) Main in Garden City, Missouri. She attended rural schools and Garden City public school until the family moved to Hardin, Missouri in 1942. It was in Hardin that Jean completed grade school and most of high school. In January 1949, during her senior year, she moved with her parents to Onida, SD where she became a graduate of Onida High School. Jean entered into Northern State College in the fall 1949, graduating with her teaching certificate.

On June 6, 1950 she was united in marriage with Henry Hertel Jr. at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Blunt, SD. Jean and Henry lived at what was known as the Scheffer place for the first four years of their marriage and later moved to the home place after his mother moved to Pierre in 1954. They remained there and farmed until Henry’s retirement in 1997. During those years of farming, Jean spent countless hours cooking for and feeding hired men, which included numerous nephews and neighbors. They had two children, Terry Hertel and Suzanne (Bill) Stahl and two grandchildren Zora Hertel and Joseph Stahl.

Jean was frequently a substitute teacher at Blaine, Lincoln, Rich Valley, and Onida schools. She also served as a teacher’s aid at Blaine before it’s closure. She was a member of the Sully County Fair Board, Blaine Progress Club, Sully County Farm Bureau, and Wheatland Lion’s Club of Onida.

Jean had many hobbies, which included, sewing, crocheting, crafting, and gardening. She especially loved her flowers. She and Henry would also regularly gather with family and close friends to play cards. Later in life Jean enjoyed traveling with Bill and Suzanne and following Joseph’s activities while at Mount Marty College. She developed many friendships during this time and was thought of as Grandma Jean by many.

A devout Catholic, Jean was member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. She served as a parish council member and as organist for 22 years. Jean remained on the farm in the years following Henry’s death. In March 2018 she moved to Edgewood Senior Living Center in Pierre where she lived the rest of her life. Jean died March 5th, 2024 with family by her side.

Jean is survived by her daughter, Suzanne and her husband Bill, grandchildren Zora and Joseph, one sister-in-law Joycelyn Pietrus, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Mildred, her husband Henry, son, Terry, and her brothers and sisters-in-law.

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