Rapid City – Constance "Connie" Cleveland, 98, died Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village in Rapid City.

Constance Doreen Borlaug Cleveland left this life on October 5, 2024, at the age of 98 years. She had been residing at St. Martin's Village in Rapid City, SD for the last eight years.

Connie was born on April 19, 1926, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Alvhild (Jordjoy) and Rev. Arthur O. Borlaug.  She joined three older brothers, Oliver, Leonard, and Paul, and eventually became a big sister to a younger brother.  When Connie was seven, she suffered the devastating loss of her mother.  Her love of reading and music grew as she now read and sang not only to herself, but also to her young brother Donald.  She loved school but as she progressed through the grades, the world fell apart, WWII broke out, and one by one her older brothers left to join the war effort.

Eventually Connie was able to go to Concordia then to Luther College and get a teaching certificate.  She taught in several schools across North Dakota.  Education was important and she decided to complete hers with a four-year degree at Valley City State Teachers College.  It would be here, at a summer school square dance, that she would meet the love of her life, Herbert Bruce Cleveland.  After a courtship and his enlistment tour in the Korean War, Connie married "Bruce" Sept. 9, 1955, with her brother Rev. Donald Borlaug officiating.  The couple moved to Grand Forks, ND so Bruce could finish his BS degree.  Following this, they moved to Minneapolis, MN where Connie continued teaching and Bruce began Luther Seminary.

During the seminary years, Laurie was born, so Connie was forced to leave teaching, by order of the school administration.  A year and a half later they had Beth. Then Connie was a pastor's wife with a move to Lead, SD and another baby, Rob.  Three years later, another move to Fort Meade, SD, and Tim is born.  Connie was very active in church activities, Mental Health Association, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Women against Violence (WAVI), Toastmistress Club, and with best friend Shirley Massa, began Cottage Ministries – an ecumenical women's prayer group. She also volunteered with her daughter's Girl Scout troops, school activities, and spent many hours in her garden.

As the children began to matriculate to college, she decided to advance her education and earned a Master of Social Work degree.  She was hired as a Social Worker at the Sturgis hospital and nursing home.  She continued here until Bruce was appointed as Chief of Chaplains for the Department of Veterans Affairs and relocated to Washington D.C.  Connie became very active in the ministries of her church and volunteered with the homeless mission.  Her love of music came out when she joined the National VA Medical Musical Group and traveled the world performing concerts for dignitaries (the Pope and Queen Elizabeth) and others.  When their D.C. time ended, they moved back to Rapid City, SD and lived in their home for 25 years, where Connie remained supportive of social justice causes, women's rights, South Dakota Foundation, Lutheran Social Services, P.E.O., and Meals on Wheels.  Music and reading by audiobook have been part of her life until the last few months.

Connie is survived by her husband Herbert "Bruce" Cleveland of Rapid City, SD.

Her children Laurie (Kevin) Schlepp of Rochester, MN; Beth (Mark) Massa of Rapid City, SD; Rob (Patty) Cleveland of Neptune, NJ; and Tim (Stacy) Cleveland of Weatherford, TX.  Her grandchildren Kira (Hollis Ferguson) Schlepp of Idabel, OK; Lyndley Schlepp of Beaverton, OR; Alex (Krystal Bresnahan) Massa of Rapid City, SD; Chris (Kallan) Massa of Aberdeen, SD; Ryan (Mallory) Lasch of Spring Lake, NJ; Tyler (Erin Radvanski) Cleveland of Belmar, NJ; and Meghan Cleveland of Denton, TX.  And her great grandchildren Carter, Julia and Mabel Lasch.

She is also survived by in-laws John (Ardus) Cleveland of La Crosse, WI; (Karin) Cleveland of Lakeville, MN; Jerry (Darlene) Cleveland of Detroit Lakes, MN; Linda (Dick) Dahlin of Rochert, MN; Curt Cleveland of Kalamazoo, MI; Dennis (Karen) Cleveland of Winona, MN; many beloved nieces and nephews; and decades long friend Carol Hill.

She was preceded in death by all four brothers and their wives, and one brother-in-law.

Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am Tuesday, October 15 with Celebration of Life Funeral Service at 11:00 am all at Calvary Lutheran Church, 5311 Sheridan Lake Road.

Burial will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

Memorials may be given to the Constance Borlaug Cleveland Endowment Fund at the SD Community Foundation (PO Box 296, Pierre, SD 57501), Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, or a charity of your choice.