Leonard Boeding was born on May 2, 1926 in Glad Valley, South Dakota. He is Walt’s second cousin once removed.
Leonard was the 12th of 13 children born to William and Mary Wellman Boeding. William and Mary were both born in West Point and married there in 1905. They moved to South Dakota shortly thereafter and had farms in various places around the state. Some of the family moved back to Iowa, and that is where we Leonard with his parents in 1940.
In 1943, on October 29, Leonard enlisted in the Navy. He first went to training in Farragut, Idaho. From January 1 to March 31, 1944, he was at the Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee. On April 25, 1944, he left for the Pacific. By May 5, 1944, he was at the Air Facility, Tinian Island, Marianas. Leonard returned to the United States on November 29, 1945 and was discharged on January 17, 1946.
1950 finds Leonard, his mother Mary and brother Raymond living in West Point. Leonard is working as a bartender at the Legion Hall. Raymond is an inspector at a pen factory.
On December 27, 1954, Leonard Boeding married Norma White Canaris. Norma was born to Walter and Grace Scarff White on June 18, 1928. She had previously married Richard Canaris. Richard died in 1952. Norma and Richard had one daughter.
Leonard and Norma lived in West Point. He was the owner and operator of the Corner Tavern.
Leonard Boeding died on July 23, 1971. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery. Norma died on December 29, 1977.
I wrote about Leonard’s great grandfather in this post.
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