Leoba Henscheid Kaphammer Engels
courtesy photo
Leoba Engels
RONAN — Leoba Henscheid Kaphammer Engels died of natural causes on Nov. 16, 2013, at St. Luke Community Hospital, surrounded by her husband and family members.
She was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, on Jan. 17, 1925, the fourth of eleven children of Henry and Mary Henscheid. After high school graduation she worked for the First Security Bank in Pocatello, Idaho, for two years, then went home for three months to help out on the family farm, after which she went to work at the bank in Idaho Falls.
In January of 1949 Leoba married John Kaphammer in Blackfoot, Idaho. In November of that year they moved to Hamilton where they farmed until John’s death in 1967. They had seven children.
Leoba married Robert (Bob) Engels in May 1971. They moved to Ronan in 1976. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where in the past she occasionally played the organ and continued to help with the singing. She served as President of the Council of Catholic Women and was Deanery Council of Catholic Women Treasurer, Past President of the Ronan Women’s Club, member of the Spark and Throttle Antique Car Club and Board Member of the Ronan Senior Citizens Center.
Leoba was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband in 1967; one son, John, in 1969; two grandchildren; two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include her husband Bob and six children: Robert Kaphammer (Linda) of Hamilton, Susan Kaphammer of Yakima, Wash., Linda Beale of Federal Way, Wash, Jim Kaphammer (Donna) of Columbia Falls, Karl (Ellen) Kaphammer of Ronan, and Patty (Dennis) Dellwo of Polson. Seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren plus three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren by marriage, also survive her. Other survivors include four sisters: Cecilia Rausch of Eagle, Idaho; Mary Ray of Phoenix, Ariz.; Rose Bakoulas of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Theresa (Al) Boykin of Pascagoula, Miss.; two brothers: Raymond of Boise, Idaho and Norbert (Mary Lou) of Boise, Idaho; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Vigil will be held at the Ronan Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. Funeral services will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. with a luncheon at noon at the Parish Hall. Graveside services will be at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton, on Friday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.
