Mostly Cloudy, 51° F
(Dec. 8, 1930 - Jan. 23, 2015)
Laura May Brunkow, 84, died Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, at Powell Valley Care Center.
Laura May was born Dec. 8, 1930, in Emblem to Laurance Roehrkasse and Ida Louise (Pries) Roehrkasse.
She graduated from high school in Greybull in 1948, and then attended Northwest College in Powell.
Laura May married Norman Earl Leonard Sr. (1929-1967) in 1950. They lived in Cody with their four children. She worked at Mountain Bell Telephone Co. and was part-owner in the Log Cabin Bar.
On May 31, 1975, she married Donald W. Brunkow. They moved to Sheridan, where they lived until 2007. Laura May worked at the county clerk’s office in Sheridan until she retired in 2005. They returned to Cody in 2007 to be closer to family.
Laura May loved spending time with her devoted husband Don enjoying their family and extended family. Laura May was a lifetime member of the Lutheran church and was a devoted member of the Christ the King Church in Cody until her passing.
She also loved gardening, tending to her flowers, reading, sewing, crafts and spending time with her grandchildren. Laura May was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother and was loved by everyone she met.
She is survived by her husband Donald W. Brunkow; children Linda Mallow (Chuck) of Florence, Colo., Norman Leonard (Cindy) of Cody, Lynette Smith of Cody, Leretta Smith of Minnesota. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Shauna Sweeney, Chad Underwood, Destiny Leonard, Amanda Dewitt, Dillon Dewitt, Zachary Dewitt, Sarah Smith, Amelia Dewitt and Angel Johnston; and multiple great-grandchildren.
Laura May was preceded in death by her parents as well as Norman Earl Leonard Sr., Leonard Roehrkasse, Irene Whitton, Glenn Roehrkasse and a son Louis Wayne Leonard.
Services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 10:30 a.m. at the Christ The King Lutheran Church in Cody. Services will be officiated by Pastor Dr. Ron Garwood and Pastor Lee Wisroth, with interment at the Riverside Cemetery immediately to follow.
The family will have a gathering celebrating her life at Christ the King Lutheran Church following services.
