Barbara Jean Cleland
August 26, 1931 – July 11, 2020

A funeral mass for Barbara Jean Cleland, 88, of Canistota, SD, formerly of Pierre, SD, was celebrated Friday, July 17, 2020, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Pierre, SD.
Burial was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery of Pierre, SD.
Barbara Jean Cleland died Saturday, July 11, 2020, at Good Samaritan Society of Canistota, SD.
Barbara Jean Cleland was born Aug. 26, 1931, at Chamberlain, SD, to Lawrence and Elizabeth (Fremgen) Leiferman.
She grew up on the family farm near Ola, SD, and attended country school. She attended Chamberlain High School of Chamberlain, SD, graduating in 1949.
Barbara worked as a switchboard telephone operator in Chamberlain, SD, while attending high school and transferred to Sioux Falls, SD, when Don attended Augustana College.
On Sept. 22, 1952, Barbara was united in marriage to Donald E. Cleland at Chamberlain, SD. Six sons were born to this union.
Barbara resided in Sioux Falls, SD, with her sister, Betty Lou while Donald served in the Army and Barbara and Donald remained in Sioux Falls, SD, in private business and raising their family. Both served as Minnehaha deputy sheriffs until 1973 when the family moved to Pierre, SD, and Don accepted a South Dakota state parole officer position. Barb continued as deputy sheriff for Hughes County of South Dakota and later served in the State Capitol auditor’s department.
Barbara enjoyed reading, arts and crafts and thoroughly enjoyed serving as eucharistic minister in her later years.
She loved and was dedicated and devoted to her church and family.
She had many friends and touched the hearts of all she met.
She will be missed by all.
Declining health took Barbara back to Sioux Falls, SD, where she resided at Prince of Peace Retirement, Sioux Falls, SD, and later at Good Samaritan Society until her death.
Grateful for having shared her life are her six sons, Michael Cleland and Andrea of Wichita, Kansas, Gregory Cleland and Kelli of Sioux Falls, SD, Cary Cleland and Kelly of Sioux Falls, SD, Timothy Cleland of Rapid City,
SD, Christopher Cleland and Lisa of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Jeffrey Cleland and Holly of Dell Rapids, SD; 12 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins and several in-laws and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Cleland in 1986; her parents, Lawrence and Elizabeth Leiferman; two sisters, Betty Lou Wengert and Delores Keiner; a brother, Lawrence Leiferman, Jr.; brothers-in-law, Robert Keiner, Keith Wengert and Floyd Cleland and a sister-in-law, Corrine (Cullen) Leiferman Vetter.
Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
On-line condolences may be written at www.isburgfuneralchapels.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the South Dakota Alzheimer’s Association.