Leah M. Hardy

Leah M. Hardy, 89, of Sioux City passed away May 5, 2019 in Sioux City.

Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Cross Roads Evangelical Church in South Sioux City, Nebraska (920 W. 21st St.) with Pastor Steve Woodall officiating. Burial will follow in Omaha Valley Cemetery - Homer, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

The former Leah Beardshear was born on September 2, 1929 in Homer, Nebraska to Harvey and Mary (Nelson) Beardshear.  She enjoyed growing up in Homer with lots of friends and family always around and she graduated from Homer High School in 1947.  As a teenager, Leah enjoyed assisting her father Harvey as he built houses in the Homer area. While working, he would tell her many stories of his life and family. She said it was peaceful and enjoyable working alongside her father. She also learned a strong work ethic from working with her dad so she understood how important it was to earn her own way in the world. Leah started working during her teen years as a waitress at the restaurant in the old Mayfair Hotel in Sioux City.  After graduating from high school, she continued working at various jobs, but the one she enjoyed the most was teaching 1^st graders at 2 different schools in Phoenix, AZ.  After 20 years of teaching, she decided it was time to retire and spend time with her friends and family, including her husband Joe Hardy, whom she spent 24 years with before he passed away in 1994.

Because she lived her life fully, she left behind many people to cherish many wonderful memories.  Her son Terry (Nell) Huffman of Takotna, AK; 3 daughters Ariel Summerlin and her husband Jay Atkinson of El Sobrante, CA;  Mary (Gary) Adams of Colfax, IA; and Molly Hildebrand of Sioux City, IA.  15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, 1 sister Neva Nickum of McCook Lake, SD and many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; parents, Harvey and Mary Beardshear; 2 brothers Dale and Lorn Beardshear, 1 sister Vera McCoy; and 1 grandson, Tyron Millwee.