Cheryl Leean

Cheryl Lee Leean, 67, Jamestown, ND passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Sanford Health in Bismarck. 

Cheryl Neva was born September 1, 1955 at Kensal, ND the daughter of George B. and Hilda (Diederichs) Neva.  She grew up in rural Kensal, graduating from Kensal Public School in 1973.  She babysat for close neighbors and friends including Duane and Cheryl Hoggarth’s children, Tammy and Scott Hoggarth. 

She and Gary Leean were married June 16, 1973 at Kensal, ND.  They made their home in Jamestown where she continued to babysit and provided in home daycare until going to work at Bonanza in 1986.  She and Gary divorced in 1998, when she later met her boyfriend Dave McDonald, whom she was with leading up to her death. Cheryl worked various jobs in Jamestown, some including Famous Fried Chicken, Leever’s, Hugo's, Stop-n-Go, and her last job being Newman Signs until 2021. 

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kensal, ND and later Concordia Lutheran Church when moving to Jamestown, ND.  

Cheryl made friends with everyone she encountered and would talk for hours if given the chance. She was kind, loving, caring, and compassionate. Cheryl always put everyone before herself whether it be friends, family, or a stranger. She loved to give gifts and if she found something that reminded her of someone, she bought it and would give it to them when she saw them next. Cheryl’s greatest joys in life were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved and treated them all just the same and she always supported every one of them and the decisions they made in life. She was their biggest fan and loved watching them accomplish things in life from graduations to having kids. Cheryl had a special bond with her three-year-old great grandson Hudson and there was nothing that could pull those two apart. When they were together, they would play, laugh, and sing for hours. Their favorite thing to do was to have sleep overs. Her time with her one-year-old great granddaughter, Evelyn was cut short, but she sure cherished and spoiled her too.  

Cheryl is survived by her 2 children, Roberta Schmidt and Nolan Leean, both of Jamestown, ND; 6 grandchildren; Brandon Schmidt, Justin Schmidt, Elizabeth Schmidt, Jana (Jeff Muhs) Leean, Dahlton Metz, all of Jamestown, ND. Madison Leean Page, ND; 4 great grandchildren; Hudson, Evelyn, Zayne, and Dominik Muhs, all of Jamestown, ND; 1 brother, Darryl Neva, Jamestown, ND; 4 half siblings, Kristy Holland, Sheila Harrington, Brian Harrington and Brenda Stokes, all of Carrington, ND and Keith Harrington, Grand Forks, ND; Ex husband Gary (Vivian Heir) Leean, Jamestown ND; and boyfriend Dave McDonald, Jamestown, ND. 

She was preceded in death by her parents George B. and Hilda Neva, and son-in-law, Paul Schmidt.

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