Leona Shaw

Leona Shaw, age 98, of Milbank, died Friday, December 11, 2015, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 14, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. at American Lutheran Church in Milbank with Rev. Carl Larson officiating. Burial will follow in the Milbank City Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be held for two hours prior to the time of service at the church on Monday. Casket bearers will be Tom Aho, Gene Vostad, Harvey Shafer, Wally Hamman, Charles Meyer, Dr. Vichit Vanadurongvan, Boyd Sussex, and Preston Fischer.

Leona H. Shaw was born on May 31, 1917, in LaMoure, ND, to Leif and Amelie (Erickson) Holt. She graduated from Milbank High School with the class of 1935. She then furthered her education, attending nurses training in 1939 at Drake University in Des Moines, IA.

On December 8, 1942, Leona enlisted in the Army Nurses Corp. Her first assignment was in Des Moines. Two months later, Leona relocated to Camp Carson in Colorado and was assigned to a General Hospital going to the Pacific Theater. A week before the unit was to leave, she received orders to go to a field hospital at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, intended for the European Theater.

Leona departed for England on Queen Elizabeth on May 10, 1943 and arrived there, along with several hundred soldiers, on May 18. She was assigned to a Combat Surgical Unit to the Third Army under the command of General George Patton. There she served as an anesthetist for one of the surgical teams. Leona’s unit served in England, France, Belgium, Germany, and Austria during her deployment. She was involved in battle campaigns in Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland, France, and Central Europe. During her service, Leona earned the Bronze Star Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the EAME Theater Campaign Medal, 5 Bronze Service Stars, Overseas Service Bars, and the American Theater Campaign Medal. She was honorably discharged on January 29, 1946.

After her discharge, Leona returned home and was united in marriage to Arlo Shaw on August 31, 1947, in Milbank. To this union, one son was born.

Leona adored taking care of people and was honored to work as a nurse at the Milbank Hospital for 20 years and as a Milbank school nurse for 13 years. She also loved visiting with people and took pleasure in baking, especially around Christmas. Leona enjoyed watching baseball and football. Although she watched the Minnesota Twins and Green Bay Packers, she found the greatest enjoyment watching her grandson play football. Most important to Leona was her family and she cherished each moment spent with her son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Leona was a member of American Lutheran Church in Milbank and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Left with Leona’s memory is her son, Bob Shaw (partner, Joan Ishol) of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren: Rob Shaw of Sioux Falls, SD, and Kristi (Travis) Pride of Mansfield, TX; and four great-grandchildren: Abigail, Colt, Brody, and Raelee.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arlo Shaw; and one sister.
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