Rena Lesser

Rena Ivener Lesser was born on December 29, 1929, in Sioux City, Iowa. Growing up on a farm in the 1930s and 1940s, she learned resilience and the value of hard work, yet she appreciated the value of academic achievement. A move to a new school with a different academic year system resulted in Rena moving up a grade midyear; she was able to bridge the knowledge gap by learning necessary skills on her own. As a teenager, Rena, believing she should do her part to supplement the family income, sought work outside the home (even, on one occasion, pretending she was older so she would be hired). This devotion to family became the hallmark of her adult life. On March 5, 1950, Rena married Gerald Lesser. Her new husband brought his 20-year-old bride to his farm in Carthage, South Dakota. The lack of electricity–and the brutally cold winters and intensely hot summers–provided a new set of challenges. It was while living in Carthage that, on December 20, 1950, Rena gave birth to her son, Jack–in a hospital fifty miles from home (a long trip on rural roads in those days). Two years later, on January 8, 1953, Jack’s sister, Barbara, joined the family. After living for a time in Sioux City, the Lessers moved to the town of Mitchell, South Dakota. While her husband worked with his father in their business, Rena played a typical role: mother, homemaker, and good neighbor. Yet she knew that, if business was brisk in the fabric store, she would receive a call to help out. Rena had two more daughters: Marilyn, born on February 10, 1959, and Sheila, who came into the world on August 30, 1968. Shortly before Sheila’s birth, the family moved into a more comfortable, spacious home. During this time as a mother, wife, and contributor to the family business, Rena also found time to take art lessons and leadership positions in such important organizations as the local PTA and Lioness Club. As Rena’s children grew up, she imparted to each her belief in achievement, community service, and the importance of family and friends. After seeing her children head off to begin new lives away from their birthplace, Gerald and Rena’s own lives were changing in other ways. As the 21st century commenced, Gerald’s declining health made running the business difficult. In 2005 (the year their oldest grandchild married), the couple relocated to the Houston area, which was now home to their younger daughters. While Gerald needed nursing home care, Rena adjusted to her new life. Following Gerald’s passing in March 2006, Rena’s innate sociability and resilience came to the fore. She continued to do what she loved: visit family (and attend the weddings of two grandchildren), maintain contact with friends, and pursue creative hobbies. During her retirement years, she participated in community art projects and Senior Olympics. She drew pictures of all of her friend's and children's pets as treasured gifts and donated other drawings to fundraisers for a community garden. Even as her own declining capabilities necessitated a move to an assisting living facility, Rena insisted on maintaining her independence. On August 16, 2023, Rena, after a life well lived, passed away peacefully at the age of 93.

Rena Lesser

December 29, 1929 - August 16, 2023