Mary Lea Negaard

Rock Valley, IA: Mary Lea Negaard, 91, of Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley. A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 10, at 10:00 AM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rock Valley with Pastor Chris Van Beek officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. A visitation, with the family present, will be held prior to the service from 9:00-10:00 AM at the church.

   Memorials may be directed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Rock Valley or The Miracle League of Sioux City. Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

   Mary Lea Negaard, daughter of Albert and Addie (Wirt) Turbiville, was born in Camp Crook, South Dakota on August 17, 1934. She grew up in Camp Crook as the youngest of 10 children and graduated from Buffalo, South Dakota High School. It was there she met her high school sweetheart, Stanley Negaard. They were united in marriage on June 13, 1954. After Stanley graduated from Black Hills State University in 1957, they moved to Alvord, Iowa and then to Rock Valley, Iowa in 1962 where she resided for the remainder of her life.

   Mary worked as a dental assistant while Stanley was in college and then was the director of the Foster Grandparent Program in Rock Valley for 25 years. Her lifetime dream though was to be a mother and she devoted her life to being a mother to 5 children and over 15 adult males with disabilities who lived in her home over the years. Mary was passionate about advocating for children and the elderly and served on many volunteer boards fulfilling that passion.

   Mary loved the closeness she felt to God while in her garden and flower beds. Caring for the earth and nature came from being raised in western South Dakota. A place she returned to often and where she felt so at peace. From a young age, Mary had a hunger for the Word of God. She loved teaching and studying the Word all her life. Her relationship with God impacted everything she did and every decision she made. Her life was a picture of putting other people and their needs before herself and her needs; just as Jesus calls us to do.

   The last 5 years of her life, Mary, along with Stanley, were blessed by the love, care, and friendship of their in-home care team of Shirleen, Carey, Donna, Shannon, Lexi, and Sarah.

   Mary is survived by her husband of 71 years, Stanley; 5 children, Roger (Paula) Negaard of Rock Valley, Jodi Negaard of Rock Valley, Kevin (Gail) Negaard of Sioux City, Iowa, Mark (Jeanna) Negaard of Hawarden, Iowa, and Heather Negaard of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 12 grandchildren, Jaimi, Stefan, Tim, Molly, Marcus, Matthew, Megan, Taren, Tate, Toni, Rylee, and Justin; and 19 great-grandchildren.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Addie Turbiville; 9 siblings; parents-in-law, Clarance and Irene Negaard; great-granddaughter, Jessa; and many other relatives.