Marjorie "Marge" S. Freeman Dennis Leonard

1917 - 2007

Marjorie (Marge) S. Freeman Dennis Leonard
Marjorie S. Freeman Dennis Leonard died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007, at 90 years of age. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Terrace Lawn Memorial Garden, with a reception following the graveside service at the Cloverdale Funeral Home Reception Center. Services are under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home.
Marge was the fifth child of William O. and Harriett Ottley Freeman, born March 4, 1917, in Sugar City. She spent the majority of her life growing up in Nampa with her brothers George, Lawrence, Bud, Leonard and sister, Veral.
Mom attended Idaho Southern Branch in 1948 before it became Idaho State University, and Link's School of Business. She was recognized by Idaho State University as an outstanding alumni in 1988 and was inducted into the Golden Bengals. Mom worked for Idaho Power in 1940-44. She worked from 1959-70 for State Auditor Joe R. Williams.
During World War II, Mom was a USO hostess, and in the Civil Air Patrol, where she received her half wing as an observer. She worked as a nurse's aide at Mercy Hospital and at Gowen Field where she met a young man in the Army Corps of Engineers. It was definitely NOT love at first sight, but eventually he wore her down. She married Charles "Ted" Dennis, and from this union three children were born: Marjorie Lorraine, Darien "Dee" Veral and Robert T. Dennis. In 1948 they settled in Meridian, where Mom lived until 1970. After her divorce in 1968 from Ted, Mom was the stabilizing force in raising her three children.
Mom was a lifetime member of VFW Meridian Auxiliary 4000 and Past President. She was also a lifetime/charter member of Beta Sigma Phi and Past President of the Nampa Chapter. Mom was very active with the Democratic Party until '90. She received the "Woman of the Year" award from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce in 1957, and the National VFW award in 1957 for Outstanding Community Service. She received a certificate of recognition from then Idaho Governor John Evans for service rendered to the State of Idaho.
In 1970, Mom met G. Jones Leonard from Declo, due to the efforts of her cousin. Mom and Jones were married that June and spent 26 years together. After Jones's decline in health, Mom sold the place in Declo and returned to live in Nampa. There she reconnected with her remaining friends from high school and family. In January 2007, she moved to Boise to live closer to her daughter Dee. She was the last one remaining from the "Freeman Six," and we treasured her greatly - she was our matriarch and we loved her dearly.
We could not remember her ever uttering an unkind word to anyone. She was loved and admired by many during her long life. She lived long enough to see her granddaughter Alicia get married two weeks ago. Our belief is she chose to make it to this great event before she left us.
She was well known at the Idaho State School and Hospital in Nampa when our sister Lorraine lived there. Every Christmas Mom made a candy house for Lorraine's birthday, which was Christmas day; and Lorraine insisted it was for her roommates at the school.
Mom and Jones wintered in Quartzite, Ariz., many years, where she made many friends. She was also very active in artistic endeavors at that time, making Kachina dolls. She hated the desert, but made the most of it as that was where she and her husband spent many hours together.
Mom is survived by her daughter Dee Hartman, Boise; son, Robert (Patty) Dennis, Meridian; grandsons Dustin Hartman and Shane Dennis, Meridian; and granddaughter Alicia Dennis Knox, Kennewick, Wash. She is survived by her stepchildren: Diana (Jerry) Berg, Rupert; Clarence "Bish" (Emma Jean) Leonard, Meridian; Orville (Anna) Leonard, Boise; and Letha (Roy) Hardy, Ririe, and 10 step grandchildren, 20 step great-grandchildren, and two step great-great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law, Ruby Freeman, Nampa, and Florence Ewing, New York. Her niece Jana Freeman (Tim) McCarthy, Meridian, and her three daughters were special to her; and she considered Jana just like her daughter. Her other nieces Marilyn (Dennis) Edwards, Nampa; Darlene (Scott) Harker, Louisiana; and Charlotte (Val) Dille, Nampa, held special places in her heart, as well as numerous nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Mom is preceded in death by her husband, G. Jones Leonard; her parents, William O. and Harriett Freeman; her daughter, M. Lorraine Dennis; her brothers, George, Lawrence, Bud, Leonard; her sister, Veral; and nephew, Reed Freeman.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Special Olympics or Alzheimer's.