Leatrice (Deda) Voss
courtesy photo
Leatrice (Deda) Voss
POLSON – Leatrice (Deda) Voss, 88, of Polson, left this earth bound for heaven, on Monday, Aug. 27.
Deda was born Oct. 30, 1923, in LaMoure, N.D., and lived most of her life in Lakefield, Minn., until following her family to Polson, Mont., in 1979. She was married in 1945 to Virgil Voss and lived on the family farm where she gave private piano lessons. The couple had two children Jane and William. In 1968 she went to work for Berkley and Co. as a secretary. After moving to Montana she worked at the Lake County Courthouse until her retirement. After her retirement she worked part time for Lake County Abstract and Title.
Deda was an accomplished pianist. She began taking piano lessons at the age of five, encouraged by her Aunt Augusta (who played for silent pictures in the 1920s and 1930s), and never stopped playing. She played the organ in her church in Minnesota and the piano in her church in Montana. She played for soloists, funerals, weddings, school concerts, and the theatre. Her theatre playing began in 1986 when she began playing for the Port Polson Players. She was hooked and from then on she played for all the musicals she could until she was 85 and unable to see the music clearly. Playing bridge was her second hobby and had played in many bridge clubs where she made lifelong friends.
Deda was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Lena Hegardt, two sisters, Billy Evans and Margaret Hegardt; two brothers, Quentin Hegardt and Phillips Phipps; a son, William Voss; and a great-grandson, Hudson Taylor.
She is survived by a daughter, Jane Taylor (Jerry); daughter in law Shaun Biddle; seven grandchildren: Jeremy Taylor (Stormy), Justin Taylor (Jaime), Eric Voss, Tim Voss, Laurel Voss, Jessica Voss and Chris Voss; and 10 great-grandchildren: Chandler, Haley, Anna, Angelina, Logan, Luke, Levi, Coleman, Austin and Ashton.
A memorial service will be held in her honor on Sept. 16, at 5 p.m., at New Life Christian Center in Polson. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Port Polson Players, PO Box 1152, Polson, MT 59860.
