Leanne "Lani" LeClair

“We love our Lucky Lady.”

Leanne “Lani” Carol LeClair passed away peacefully in her home on Monday evening, June 5th, 2017.

“She could make mean watermelon boat.” Lani seemed fairly unassuming in her later years and she truly enjoyed the simple pleasures such as Wednesday trips to the downtown farmer’s market, playing (and possibly cheating) at cribbage, and religiously watching Ellen DeGenerous and Let’s Make a Deal. But don’t be fooled. Lani LeClair had nine lives, each and every one of which she dedicated to rocking boats, taking names, and raising hell… and she looked fabulous doing it.

Born November 22nd, 1948 in San Bernadino, CA and later relocated to Fargo, ND, Lani grew up with her parents, Jack and Anne Louise, her three sisters: Linda, Jane, and Kim and her brother, Donny. After graduating from Fargo Central High School in ND, Lani met Gregory Thompson, to whom she was married from 1967-1983. The couple had one daughter, Delaine Jeanette Thompson, who was born in 1969. Lani and her family lived in Lake Mills, IA from 1967-1973 and then Brookings, SD from 1973-1982. In 1983, Lani divorced, moved to Sioux City, IA, and then met her last and best love, David “Davey Jones” LeClair. They married on September 12th, 1985 in Elk Point, SD. (They then decided to reveal their elopement to Delaine by driving backwards through the drive-thru of the Morningside Dairy Queen where she was working. Lani stuck her hand out the window and exclaimed, “Look what we did!”.)

Lani and Dave then moved from Sioux City to Marathon, FL where they lived on the beach of the Florida Keys for the next 6 years. Lani describes this time as the best years of her life. While living in the Keys, Lani was extremely proud to be the sous chef for the Hawk’s Cay Resort and Marina. This is where she became the fresh food connoisseur, soup enthusiast, and wizard with a whisk that we all came to appreciate more and more with every passing Thanksgiving.

From 1993-1996, Lani and David lived in Poplar Bluff, MO and New Johnsonville, TN before relocating back to Sioux City where they settled down to be closer to their families.

Lani is preceded in death by Jack and Anne Louise Benest, Donny Benest, and Linda and Wally Homeier.

Lani is survived by her husband, three sisters, three daughters, son, respectively: David J. LeClair, Jane Hammer of Minot, ND, Kim and Warren Wilson of Minot, ND, and Yvonne Downey of Edinburg, IL, Delaine and John Krager of Sioux City, IA, Michelle Ruffin of Tampa, FL, Megan Marlow of Council Bluffs, and Andrew and Ashley LeClair of Council Bluffs. Lani is also survived by her five grandchildren and pallbearers: Devon Jesse Krager, Jessica Leanne Krager, Isabella Nikole Marlow, Connor James Loyd Marlow, and Brody Thomas Marlow.

To anyone who wishes to pay their respects or donate any gifts in memory of Lani, the family will be celebrating her life on Thursday June 8th, 2017 from 5:00pm- 8:00pm with a memorial service beginning at 7:00pm. This will take place at the Meyer Bros. Colonial Chapel, 3220 Stone Park Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51104.