Leo Froning, 95, of Winner, South Dakota, formerly of Polo, South Dakota, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Faulkton Area Medical Center Hospital, Faulkton, South Dakota.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at the St. Liborius Church in Polo, South Dakota, with Father Kevin Achbach and Father Christopher Hughes, celebrants. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Polo.  A prayer service and rosary will begin at 6:30pm, Monday, May 24, 2021 at the church.

Leo John Froning was born July 10, 1925 to Charles and Anna (Schlechter) Froning at home on the farm, in Fairview Township, Hand County, South Dakota. The farm was located three miles south and one mile east of Polo, South Dakota.

Leo attended St. Liborius Catholic Grade school and graduated from Fairview High School in Polo in 1943. Following high school, he worked for John Slunecka, Walter Martinmaas and the Henry Martinmaas farms.

Leo was drafted into the United States Army on June 26, 1945. He attended boot camp at Pine Camp in New York and Fort Myers in Virginia. He served in World War II as a private in the military battalion as a guard patrolman, and was a guard at the Pentagon. Leo received a WWII Victory Ribbon and was honorably discharged on November 18, 1946.

He married Lucy Mary Haneke on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1951 at St. Liborius Catholic Church in Polo. They moved to a farm 4 ½ miles north of Polo. In 1957, they bought the Ed and Mamie Peterka farm 8 1/2 miles west of Polo. They made the move there on April 7, 1957 during a snow storm. In September of 2012, Leo and Lucy moved to Golden Prairie Manor Assisted Living in Winner, SD and Leo remained there until April 2021, when he moved to the Faulkton Senior Living.

Leo was a member of the Polo American Legion Richard Clement Post 299, Catholic Order of Foresters, Knights of Columbus, NFO, as well as a lifetime member of the St. Liborius Catholic Church, where he served on the parish council. He also served one term as a Hand County Commissioner and felt so privileged to be on an Honor Flight to Washington DC. When Leo wasn’t busy farming and ranching he could always be found fixing things and playing cards with his kids, grandkids and friends at Golden Prairie Manor, which was always the highlight of his day.

His memory will always be cherished by his children: Daniel (Mary) Froning of Mitchell, Dolores (Dennis) Volek of Highmore, Ellen Froning (the late, Charles Froning) of Valentine, NE, Debb (Morris) Hoffman of Highmore, Mark (Diana) Froning of Brookings, Diane Pazour (the late Ken Pazour) of Highmore, Doreen (Daryl) Volek of Miller, Donna (Steven) Kubik of Hamill, Denise (Mark) Winter of Hamill; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Brian Froning (Trish) and Austin, Steve Froning (Jenn) and Jordan, Sarah (Jason) Sass and Stazy, Jason Volek, Sheila Volek, Richard Froning (Katie), Kelly and Travis, Robert Froning (Kelly), Lucy and Oliver, Mychal Hoffman (Jenn), Payton and Mason, Kristi Dobesh (Dane), Kasey, Avery, Kortney and Emery, Justin Froning, Jody Herb (Rob), Naomi and Kaylee, Caleb Pazour and Maria Pazour, Troy VanDerWerff (Jess), Austin and Ryan, Bruce VanDerWerff (Crystal), Tyler Kubik (Amy), Laker, Hallie, Kash and baby #4, Trent Kubik (Shannon), Landon and baby #2, Scott Winter (Mallori), Luke and baby #2, Brandon Winter and Grant Winter.

Leo was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy; son, Charles; son-in-law, Ken Pazour; grandchild, Raymond Froning; great granddaughters: Hadley Elizabeth Froning and Riley Marie Froning; parents: Charles and Anna Froning; siblings: Clarence (Lilian) Froning, Alphonse Froning, Emil Froning, Richard Froning, Matilda (Linell) Haigh, Charlotte Schaefers, Margaret (Donald) Gerdes; siblings-in-law: Robert (Jan) Haneke, Bernard (Dena) Haneke, Gerald (Elfrieda) Martinmaas and Barbara Jean Haneke.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Leo’s arrangements.

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