Laura Evelyn Lebak

Laura Evelyn Lebak died on November 15, 2016, at the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Evelyn, as she was known by her relatives and friends, was born July 19, 1924, in Portage, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, to Wilson and Laura (Knee) McCreary. She graduated in 1942 from high school in Portage and moved to Harrisburg, PA, to work as a quality control checker in a military clothing factory. During this time, she met her future husband, Henry I. Lebak, who was on leave prior to deployment to Germany. Their courtship consisted mainly of letters written to each other. Upon Henry’s discharge from the Army, they were married on October 14, 1945, in Portage. Following the marriage, Evelyn and Henry moved to the family farm seven miles south of Alexander. They farmed with Henry’s father, John Lebak. John taught his Pennsylvania Dutch daughter-in-law the art of Norwegian cooking, which she excelled. She was a member of the Highland Lutheran Church until they moved to Alexander in 1980 when they joined Trinity Lutheran Church. She was extremely involved in the community (American Legion Auxiliary, PTA, Trinity Quilters, Alexander Senior Center and a local whist club). She served as Curator of the Lewis and Clark Trail Museum in Alexander for more than twenty-five years. Henry died in 1999. Due to health reasons, she moved to Bismarck in 2002. She is survived by her son, Henry J. Lebak and his wife, Margaret, of Bismarck, three grandchildren, Laura Colby (Jamie) of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Erik Lebak of Fargo, North Dakota, and Rebecca Sweet (Nick) of Knoxville, Tennessee, two great-grandchildren, Erika and James Colby, one nephew, Daniel Greenaway, Uinta, Utah, and her special friends Rae and Larry Olson and Kay and Rachel Power. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son who died at birth; her parents; her sister, Margaret Greenaway; and her niece Marlene Richards. Per her wishes, there will be no service. A family memorial get-together and the inurnment of her cremated remains next to her husband at Highland Cemetery southwest of Alexander will be held at a later date. Her family thanks the staff at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center for all of their wonderful services provided to Laura. She would have appreciated it very much if you would keep her in your memories by considering a donation to the Lewis and Clark Trail Museum, PO Box 343, Alexander, ND 58831.