Leota Dicken

Graveside service for Leota Faye Dicken, 86, of Perry, will be at 1 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2024, at Cochran Cemetery in rural Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

There is no visitation scheduled.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bienhoff Funeral Home.

Leota passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024 at her home surrounded by family.

She was born June 20, 1937, in St. Louis the daughter of Arnold and Elizabeth Greason Epps.

She married Richard Wayne Spratley Dec. 2, 1955, and from this union were four children: Joy Lynn, Gay Marie, Melody Ann, and Richard Wayne. She would later marry Clifford Dicken and he preceded her in death June 12, 2015.

Leota is survived by her son, Rick (Kathleen) Spratley of Evans, Georgia; two daughters: Gay (Rick) Bergthold, and Melody (Randy) Bergthold, all of Perry; 12 grandchildren: Deanna (Doug) Harris, Jenny Fast both of California, Missouri, Casey (Ashley) Bergthold of Paris, Cory (Alicia) Bergthold of Ashland, Teresa (Gary) Culp of Center, Cal (Hannah) Bergthold of Ashland, Katie (Adrian) Lorincz of Bucharest, Romania, Karen (Garret) Bickel of Perry, Keith (Megan) Bergthold of Perry, Morgan, Kassidy, and Aislinn Spratley all of Evans, Georgia; 28 great-grandchildren: Melanie (Tyler) Nokes, Nicolas and Ashleigh Perez, Kadence Brown, Madison and Matthew Fast, Claire, Callie, and Blaine Bergthold, Mason and Hunter Bergthold, Gary Culp III, Aleigh, Alivia, and Easton Culp, Amelia Bergthold, Nate, Noah, Hannah, and Abby Lorincz, Evelyn, Elise, and Eleanor Bickel, Justin, Isabelle, Maggie, Teddy, and Jared Bergthold.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter: Joy Lynn Whitaker; son-in-law: Bill Whitaker: great-granddaughter: Kelsey Perez; two sisters: Gladys Bullis and Mary Bullis, and one brother: Ellis “Bud” Epps.

Leota Dicken was a servant of her Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The thread of faith ran through her life weaving from her parents through her children and grandchildren. Leota was an entrepreneur owner of The Son Shine Home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, as well as many business enterprises over the years like sewing and upholstery. She was an advocate of church missions, helping the handicapped, and poor. She was always a light of the gospel of Christ through raising her family, leading Sunday School, church music leader, directing vacation Bible Schools, serving at church camps, and even special ministries such as clowning and puppet shows. Leota was truly confident in Jesus through her many successes and the challenging times in life. Her testimony of God’s love is felt everyday by those that spent time with her.

Pallbearers will be Casey Bergthold, Cory Bergthold, Cal Bergthold, and Keith Bergthold.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Reason to Hope mission (Improving the lives of those with disabilities in Guatemala) or to the Oak Grove Baptist Church building fund in care of Bienhoff Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Perry, Missouri 63462.

Online condolences may be made at www.bienhofffuneralhome.com.