Leah Bertha Kanko, 83, Dayton, Ohio and formerly of Minot and Butte, died on Saturday March 31, 2007, in a Kettering, Ohio nursing home.

Leah was born on September 2, 1923, in Fresno, CA, to Alexander and Anna (Rebucha) Holichenko. She was raised in Detroit, MI, where she graduated from Northwestern High School in 1940. As a young adult she was employed as a nurses aid at Harper Hospital.

Leah married Elvin Kanko on September 28, 1941, in Detroit. They made their home on a farm southeast of Butte, ND, where they grew small grains and raised turkeys and milk cows. The family moved into Butte in 1950, but continued to operate the farm. Elvin died in 1985 and Leah moved to Minot in June of 1990. She resided at Edgewood Vista in Minot prior to moving to the Dayton, Ohio area in 1999.

Leah was a member of the Southside Church of the Nazarene in Minot and a former member of the Rosenfeld Baptist Church in Kief, where she was the church pianist for over 20 years. In addition, she especially enjoyed crocheting, oil painting and sewing.

Leah's family includes her sons: Tim Kanko of Watsonville, CA, Ralph (Sharon) Kanko of Dayton, Ohio and Mark (Annette) Kanko of San Antonio, TX; Seven Grandchildren: Mark Kanko, Marjorie Rosewell, Thaddeus Kanko, Tiffany Peterson, Delayna Wilkins, Alex Kanko and Emma Kanko; Sisters: Nina Pluznick of Hemet, CA and Joyce Anderson of Los Altos, CA.

Leah was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sisters: Irene Savoska and Dinah Mazepink.

Funeral Service: Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in Southside Church of the Nazarene - Minot.
Interment will be in Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.