Lenora Ruth Ford

LeNora Ford, 100, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Schriver's Memorial Chapel, Aberdeen, SD.

A private family Interment will follow the service at Riverside Memorial Park, Aberdeen, SD, next to her husband and parents.

A time for luncheon and fellowship will follow the burial at Schriver's Fellowship Hall.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Ave NW, is honored to serve the Ford family. Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at www.schrivermemorial.com. Services will be recorded and shared on the funeral home’s Facebook page.

LeNora Ruth Stephan was born August 20, 1925, in Tolstoy, South Dakota, to Clarence J. and Grace (Johnson) Stephan. She was raised on a farm six miles north of Tolstoy, where she grew to adulthood and attended country school through the eighth grade. She later attended Lebanon High School and the Lemmon Bible and Music Academy, graduating in 1942.

Following graduation, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she traveled with evangelical groups from 1942 to 1944. During this time, she also taught piano and accordion lessons. In October 1946, she married Kendall Hottmann in Tolstoy. The couple farmed for several years before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1952. There, she worked at the Aberdeen Credit Bureau and later for the Internal Revenue Service. On April 28, 1979, she married Virgil M. Ford in Mitchell, South Dakota, and they continued to reside in Aberdeen. She retired from the IRS in 1987 after 24 years of service. Her husband, Virgil, passed away on March 5, 2002.

LeNora was an active member of the Women of the Moose, Chapter 178, in Aberdeen. She served as Recorder in 1989, Senior Regent in 1990, and became a member of the College of Regents in 1992. She also served as a musician for several years. She enjoyed playing the piano, gardening, caring for flowers, and crocheting. A devoted lover of small dogs, her most recent companion, a pomchi named Chi Chi, was well known around Davis Court and even at the occasional casino.

She is survived by her son, Conrad Hottmann of Centennial, Colorado; her daughter-in-law, Carol Hottmann of Rapid City, South Dakota; her stepson, Mark Ford of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her stepdaughter, Denise Ford of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three grandchildren, Becky (Ken) Reed, Adam (Reagan) Hottmann, and Jessica Hottmann; six great-grandchildren, Hazel Reed, Jeremiah Hottmann, Millie Reed, Lola Lenora Reed, Dylan Simmons, and Owen Hottmann; and the family of her sister, Betty.

LeNora was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Virgil Ford; her sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Rollie Haar; her son, Randy Hottmann; her daughter-in-law, Jeanette Hottmann; her grandson, Ryan Hottmann; her nieces, Roxie Haar and Candy Haar Bender; and Kenny and Pat Stephan.