Catherine Ponce de Leon

DEADWOOD - Catherine Ponce de Leon, 80, Deadwood, died Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at Lead-Deadwood Hospital after a short bout with cancer. Catherine was born Sept. 4, 1929, to Leander and Marian (Pott) Harn in Waterloo, Iowa. She was brought up by her mother and her beloved aunts, Rean, Agnes and Leone Pott and her favorite uncle, John Pott. Watching over the whole family was cousin Lou Witry, a founder of the Waterloo Gas and Engine Works and inventor extraordinare. He invented the Waterloo Boy, the prototype of the John Deere tractor. Catherine had spent many years researching and writing a history of her family, including Lou's numerous business activities. Catherine graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Waterloo in 1947. She married Thomas McGlade on April 18, 1949. They had four boys and a girl who were very devoted to her. Her daughter, Sue was her best friend in life. The family moved to the Black Hills in 1967 and Catherine found her best spot on earth. She cooked and baked in the St. Joseph Hospital (now Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital) for over 20 years. She is still remembered for her bread, rolls and pies. In retirement she was a volunteer at Historic Preservation in Deadwood. She was an avid supporter of the Twin City Animal Shelter. She loved to walk every day, and she loved to gather the news around town. Catherine married Raul Ponce de Leon Sept. 5, 1981, in Deadwood. All together they had 37 wonderful years together - a life full of books, writing, history and art. She understood the power of art and the nature of silence for which it was necessary to produce art. She will be greatly missed for her quiet influence - also sometimes it was not so quiet. She is survived by her husband, Raul of Deadwood; four sons and one daughter. Thomas W. (Donna) McGlade and Sue (Tim) Hinker, all of Rapid City, Daniel J. McGlade and John R. McGlade, both of Casper, Wyo., and William N. (Kelly) McGlade of Aztec, N.M.; 10 grandchildren, Jeff, Amy, Jared, Nicholas, Nick, Katie, Erin, Josh, Kaitlyn and Austin McGlade; one great-granddaughter, Regan and one on the way; a half-sister, Claudelle Tiedernann, Des Moines, Iowa; a half-brother, Jim (Joyce) Miller, Rochester, Minn.; and seven devoted cats. She was preceded in death by her parents, aunts, uncle, cousins and one infant daughter, Mary Catherine. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel in Lead. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel. A memorial had been established to benefit the Twin City Animal Shelter in Lead. Arrangements are entrusted to the Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel of Lead. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.