Orpha M. Leibel, 95, of Brookings, passed away Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at the United Living Community, in Brookings, SD. Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate her life will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, in Brookings. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, November 26, 2018 at Rude’s Funeral Home with a Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. A Rosary will be prayed prior to the visitation beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the family to be used for nursing scholarships.
Orpha M. Leibel was born on April 13, 1923, in rural Brookings County, daughter of Mathias and Olga (Swanson) Sandbeck. She grew up on the family farm south of Aurora SD, with her sister, Ione, and attended country school through 8th grade. Orpha continued her high school years at Brookings, graduating from Brookings High School in 1940. She then went on college at SDSU and Sioux Valley Medical, graduating from South Dakota State University in 1945 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She practiced as a nurse in Watertown, SD, before returning to Brookings. Orpha then went to work for SDSU at Student Health along with being a nursing instructor. When her children were young, she stayed at home to raise them, until they were all in school. She returned to SDSU Student Health, where she worked part time.
Orpha and John L. Leibel were united in marriage August 24, 1947, at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings, and made Brookings their home for 56 happy years together before John passed away in 2003.
Orpha was a member of Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, Women’s Church Guild at Saint Thomas More, Brookings County Nurses Organization, Brookings Hospital Auxiliary, Extension Club and belonged to several Bridge Clubs. Her passions were her faith, painting, drawing, writing poetry and assisting John with numerous projects. Orpha’s greatest joy was loving her family and being with them.
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Jay and Linda Leibel (Madison, SD), Alan and Kay Leibel (Winnsboro, TX), Kent and Vickie Leibel (Brookings SD); two daughters and sons-in-law, Becky and Pat Lockwood (Brookings SD) and Kathy and Jeff DesLauriers (Sioux Falls SD); ten grandchildren, Josh (Priscilla) Leibel, Kylene Leibel (Andy) Casanova, Garret Leibel, Reed Leibel, Jasper DesLauriers (Travor) Diegel, Paige Lockwood (Matt) Jones, Charlie Leibel, Danica DesLauriers, Jena Lockwood and Davis Lockwood’ four great grandchildren Rhea Diegel, Bennett Jones, Jameson Leibel and Bryn Diegel; nieces and nephews of the Dunlap family, Marla Adams, Mark Dunlap, Laurie Johnson, Shawn Dunlap, Lisa Parsons and their families.
She was preceded in death by loving husband, John; infant daughter, Beth; parents, Matt and Olga Sandbeck; sister, Ione Dunlap and grandniece, Erin Dunlap Mathews.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
