Leatrice Joyce Reeve

Leatrice (Lea) Reeve was born in Storden, Minnesota on May 30, 1925 to parents Christina and Leslie Vold. Her brother, Jack, was born several years later and they enjoyed growing up in Windom, Minnesota, where they had many fond memories of family gatherings.

Lea attended Macalester College in St. Paul and went on to work with Northwest Airlines. She had a long career working for several small businesses as a bookkeeper.

She met Oakley Reeve in high school and they were married on December 29, 1946. They thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company for over 60 years until Oak passed away in 2007. Their first son, Gary, was born in 1954, followed by Ted in 1957. Lea and Oak moved the family from St. Paul to West Des Moines, and eventually to Clive where they resided for many years and were long-time members of Central Presbyterian Church. Lea and Oak never missed their boys’ baseball games, band concerts, or half-time performances of the ISU Cyclone Marching Band.

Lea loved her grandchildren, Kelly and Scott, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to be an important part of their lives as well. Her four great grandchildren were icing on the cake as far as Lea was concerned, and they always brought a smile to her face.

Lea was passionate about music and loved attending musicals at the Civic Center, Des Moines Playhouse and outdoor concerts at the capital. She was an avid reader and excellent cook and homemaker. She learned about fashion and design from her Aunt Vera and had a keen eye for style.

Lea was preceded in death by her husband, Oak and her parents. She is survived by her sons, Gary Reeve of Clive and Ted Reeve (Patty) of Panora; her grandchildren, Scott Reeve (Grace) of West Des Moines, and Kelly Reeve Bierschenk (Blaine) of Shellsburg; her four great grandchildren, Oakley and Lucy Reeve, and Avery and Ida Mae Bierschenk, her brother, Jack Vold (Shirley) of Glen Lake Minnesota; and her dogs, Tina and Ellie. She was loved, and will be missed, by all.

Lea passed away on March 1, 2024, just shy of her 99th birthday. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at McLaren’s Chapel, followed by the memorial service at 11 am. She will be laid to rest at McLaren’s Resthaven Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.