Leona Elizabeth Utterback

Sept. 2, 1925 - June 17, 2015 Leona Elizabeth Utterback passed away peacefully on June 17, 2015, at the Garden Path Care Assisted Living Home, in Rancho Cordova, after battling a long term illness. She was surrounded by family and is survived by her husband, Charles Utterback, sons, James and David, and five grandchildren, Patricia, Rebekah, Charles, Christopher, and Michelle. Leona was born in McPherson County, South Dakota and was the daughter of Fred and Mary Schmidt Wolff. The Wolff family moved to Elk Grove, California in 1939; Leona graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1944. She met the love of her life, Charles, in 1954 while on a blind date set up for her by her twin sister, Esther. Charles and Leona were married just a month shy of 60 years. Together, Leona and Charles built Utterback Sod Farm, a successful farming business. For many years, Leona provided excellent customer service to thousands of her homeowner and landscaper customers. The farm is still family owned and operated, just the way Leona would have liked it. Leona was a wonderful sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. She was full of laughter and kindness and loved playing the piano. Family stories are often shared of her legendary angel food cakes and homemade noodles. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 on Friday, July 24 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N Street, Sacramento, 95814.