[Ancestors] [Descendants]
Leonard Ross Willett
Last updated 7 Oct 2023 in Spear–Johnson Family.
Individual
Born: 28 Sep 1922 in Tulare, Spink County, South Dakota, United States
Died: 8 Feb 2009 in Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States
Father: George William Willett (1889 – 1978)
Mother: Mary A. Spear (1896 – 1986)
census-us-1930-ps-sd-spink-45-2a: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Spink County, Tulare Township, enumeration district 58-45, sheet 2A (form/penned) or page 237A (stamped); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Spink ⟩ Tulare ⟩ District 0045" image 3; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2230 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341964]
Reference Detail: Line 4, dwelling 22
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Leonard R. Willett).
census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Line 19
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Willett, Leonard R.).
misc-spear-date-notebook: Spear birth and death date notebook; multiple contributors; privately held
Reference Detail: Page 14 - September Births (cont).
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Leonard Ross Willett).
marriage-willett-doane-1943: Record of marriage for Leonard Ross Willett and Lavilla Maude Doane (1943); South Dakota, Marriages, 1905-2017, database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 4 Sep 2007) ⟩ “1943-1944” image 117; citing “South Dakota Department of Health; Pierre, South Dakota; South Dakota Marriage Records, 1905-2016”
Comment Detail: Document includes name (Leonard Ross Willett).
memorialcard-emilie-price-2007: Memorial card (funeral program) for Emilie Ruth Price (2007); privately held
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Leonard Willett).
obituary-david-willett-2017: Obituary for David William Willett (2017); Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home (https://www.hykefuneralhome.com: accessed 25 Apr 2018), single location (Redfield, South Dakota), published after 13 Feb 2017
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Leonard [Willett]).
obituary-lavilla-willett-2017: Obituary for Lavilla M. (Carlile) Willett (2017); “Lavilla M. Willett,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 May 2020), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 2017 ⟩ 06 ⟩ 21 ⟩ main-edition" page A4; citing “Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 21 Jun 2017 (Wednesday), page A4, column 3”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Leonard Willett).
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Leonard R. Willett).
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misc-spear-date-notebook: Spear birth and death date notebook; multiple contributors; privately held
Reference Detail: Page 14 - September Births (cont).
Comment Detail: Source includes date ([September] 28 [...] 1922).
marriage-willett-doane-1943: Record of marriage for Leonard Ross Willett and Lavilla Maude Doane (1943); South Dakota, Marriages, 1905-2017, database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 4 Sep 2007) ⟩ “1943-1944” image 117; citing “South Dakota Department of Health; Pierre, South Dakota; South Dakota Marriage Records, 1905-2016”
Comment Detail: Source includes age (20). Using the marriage date of 21 Feb 1943 gives a birth date range from 22 Feb 1922 to 21 Feb 1923.
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes date (Sept. 28, 1922), and city and implied state (Tulare, South Dakota).
census-us-1930-ps-sd-spink-45-2a: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Spink County, Tulare Township, enumeration district 58-45, sheet 2A (form/penned) or page 237A (stamped); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Spink ⟩ Tulare ⟩ District 0045" image 3; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2230 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341964]
Reference Detail: Line 4, dwelling 22
Comment Detail: Source includes age (7) and location (South Dakota). Using his age and the official census date of 1 Apr 1930 gives a birth date range from 2 Apr 1922 to 1 Apr 1923.
census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Line 19
Comment Detail: Source includes age (27) and location (So. Dak). Using his age and the official 1950 census date of 1 Apr 1950 gives a birth date range from 2 Apr 1922 to 1 Apr 1923.
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obituary-david-willett-2017: Obituary for David William Willett (2017); Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home (https://www.hykefuneralhome.com: accessed 25 Apr 2018), single location (Redfield, South Dakota), published after 13 Feb 2017
Comment Detail: Source notes that Leonard Ross Willett died before brother Leonard on 13 Feb 2017.
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes date (Feb. 8, 2009), and city and implied state (Hot Springs, South Dakota).
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census-us-1930-ps-sd-spink-45-2a: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Spink County, Tulare Township, enumeration district 58-45, sheet 2A (form/penned) or page 237A (stamped); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Spink ⟩ Tulare ⟩ District 0045" image 3; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2230 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341964]
Reference Detail: Lines 2,4, dwelling 22
Comment Detail: Source identifies Leonard Willett as a son of Geroge W. Willett. The source does not provide sufficient evidence to denote the type of parent/child relationship.
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source identifies Leonard R. Willett as a biological child of George Willet.
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obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source identifies Leonard R. Willett as a biological child of Mary Anna (Spear) Willett.
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Family
Spouse/Partner: Lavilla M. Carlile (1923 – 2017)
Married: 21 Feb 1943 in Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota, United States
census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Lines 19,20
Comment Detail: Source identifies Lavilla M. Willet as the wife of Leonard R. Willett.
marriage-willett-doane-1943: Record of marriage for Leonard Ross Willett and Lavilla Maude Doane (1943); South Dakota, Marriages, 1905-2017, database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 4 Sep 2007) ⟩ “1943-1944” image 117; citing “South Dakota Department of Health; Pierre, South Dakota; South Dakota Marriage Records, 1905-2016”
Comment Detail: Source includes location (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) and marriage date (February 21st, 1943).
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes date (Feb. 21, 1943), city and implied state (Brookings, South Dakota), of marriage betweeen Leonard R. Willett and Lavilla Doane.
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Miscellaneous Facts
Events
Burial: 13 Feb 2009 at Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota, United States
Moved To Residence: 1951 at , , California, United States
Cemetery: Black Hills National Cemetery at Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota, United States
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes intention of burial at Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis (South Dakota) and date (13 Feb).
obituary-lavilla-willett-2017: Obituary for Lavilla M. (Carlile) Willett (2017); “Lavilla M. Willett,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 May 2020), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 2017 ⟩ 06 ⟩ 21 ⟩ main-edition" page A4; citing “Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 21 Jun 2017 (Wednesday), page A4, column 3”
Comment Detail: Source iincludes state (California) and year (1951) when they moved.
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes intention of burial at Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis (South Dakota).
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Attributes
Residence: at Tulare Township, Spink County, South Dakota, United States
Residence: at Tulare, Spink County, South Dakota, United States
Residence: at Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, United States
Occupation: [...] engineer
Residence: at Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, United States
Residence: at National City, San Diego County, California, United States
Residence: at National City, San Diego County, California, United States
Residence: at National City, San Diego County, California, United States
Residence: at , , , United States
Residence: at Hill City, Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
census-us-1930-ps-sd-spink-45-2a: 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Spink County, Tulare Township, enumeration district 58-45, sheet 2A (form/penned) or page 237A (stamped); 1930 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed before 18 August 2018) ⟩ "South Dakota ⟩ Spink ⟩ Tulare ⟩ District 0045" image 3; citing “Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2230 (of 2667), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.” [FHL microfilm 2341964]
Reference Detail: Line 4, dwelling 22
Comment Detail: Source includes census date (1 Apr 1930) and location (Tulare Township, County: Spink, State: South Dakota).
marriage-willett-doane-1943: Record of marriage for Leonard Ross Willett and Lavilla Maude Doane (1943); South Dakota, Marriages, 1905-2017, database with images, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 4 Sep 2007) ⟩ “1943-1944” image 117; citing “South Dakota Department of Health; Pierre, South Dakota; South Dakota Marriage Records, 1905-2016”
Comment Detail: Source includes location (Tulare, Spink County, S.D.) and marriage date (February 21st, 1943).
obituary-lavilla-willett-2017: Obituary for Lavilla M. (Carlile) Willett (2017); “Lavilla M. Willett,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 May 2020), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 2017 ⟩ 06 ⟩ 21 ⟩ main-edition" page A4; citing “Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 21 Jun 2017 (Wednesday), page A4, column 3”
Comment Detail: Source iincludes location (Aberdeen [, South Dakota]) and an approximate date given they lived in Aberdeen for six years before moving to California in 1951.
census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Line 19
Comment Detail: Source includes 1950 Census date (1 Apr 1950) and occupation ([...] engineer). I can't make out they type of engineer.
census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Line 19
Comment Detail: Source includes 1950 Census date (1 Apr 1950) and location (Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota).
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes location (National City [, California]). Unfortunately the source, printed on Thursday, 3 Sep 1964, only states "earlier this week" for the day he died. This database will use an estimate of 1 Sep 1964
periodical-l-willet-enters-usaf-academy-1967: “L. Willet Enters USAF Academy,” local military news; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 7 Oct 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Imperial Beach ⟩ Imperial Beach Star-News ⟩ 1967 ⟩ October ⟩ Oct 12, 1967, Thu ⟩ Page 25”, column 4; citing “Imperial Beach Star-News (Imperial Beach, California), 12 Oct 1967 (Thursday), page D2, column 4”
Comment Detail: Source includes story date (12 Oct 1967) and location (National City [, California]).
periodical-padgett-willett-marriage-1969: “Padgett–Willet marriage follows bride’s graduation,” wedding description; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 26 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Imperial Beach ⟩ Imperial Beach Star-News ⟩ 1969 ⟩ June ⟩ Jun 12 1969, Thu ⟩ Page 24”, column 1; citing “Imperial Beach Star-News (Imperial Beach, California), June 12, 1969 (Thursday), page C-10, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes date ("Sunday" for a story published Thursday, 12 Jun 1969) and location (National City [, California]).
obituary-lavilla-willett-2017: Obituary for Lavilla M. (Carlile) Willett (2017); “Lavilla M. Willett,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 May 2020), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 2017 ⟩ 06 ⟩ 21 ⟩ main-edition" page A4; citing “Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 21 Jun 2017 (Wednesday), page A4, column 3”
Comment Detail: Source indicates year (1981) and location (Black Hills). This almost certainly means a location in South Dakota.
memorialcard-emilie-price-2007: Memorial card (funeral program) for Emilie Ruth Price (2007); privately held
Comment Detail: Source includes reference date (26 Oct 2007) and location (Hill City, SD).
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General Notes and Anecdotes
Leonard served in the U.S. Army from 12 April 1943 to 28 Dec 1945, leaving as an electrician technician 5th Grade. He then went on to receive a B.S. degree from South Dakota State College (SDSC) in Brookings, South Dakota in June 1947. [obituary-leonard-willett-2009]
He and Lavilla moved to California in 1951 to work for General Dynamics as a Senior Design Engineer in the Atlas Missile section. He retired 30 years later on 1 April 1981 and moved to the Black Hills. [obituary-leonard-willett-2009]
He was active with the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years, as well as with various church and singing groups, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion. [obituary-leonard-willett-2009]
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
(no additional information)
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Sources
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