Leonida Costine passed away on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Avantara Norton in Sioux Falls. She was 101 years old. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, November 10, 2025, at Miller Funeral Home - Downtown Chapel (507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls) with the family present to greet friends for visitation one hour prior.

Leonida Iglesia Costine was born on June 12, 1924, in Moncada Tarlac, Philippine Islands, the daughter of Valente and Fortunata Iglesia. She met and married Staff Sargent Donald Jerome Costine during his tour of duty in the Philippine Islands during World War II. Per Army regulations, they were married on June 25, 1947. In the summer of 2024, Leonida celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends.

Following the end of the war, Leonida moved to Sioux Falls, SD, with her husband. Having moved from the tropical climate of the Philippine Islands, it took her a while to get used to the cold, snowy winters of South Dakota. She was very proud to become a naturalized citizen of the United States on December 6, 1955. Leonida worked as needed in the Costine Print Shop located in the basement of the family home to help her husband and father-in-law. In addition, she also worked as a seamstress/tailor from the family home as she and her husband raised their three young children.

Leonida enjoyed competing in the Sewing Division of the Sioux Empire Fair, where she won numerous blue ribbons. In the mid-1960s, she finally won Best of Show for a yellow and white plaid sleeveless dress with a matching tailored coat. She enjoyed attending the Fil-Am (Filipino-American) Association get-togethers throughout the years, meeting old friends, catching up with their families, and meeting Filipinos new to the eastern South Dakota area. Leonida loved cooking her favorite Filipino foods to share at the Fil-Am potlucks and with her family. She was honored at the 2024 Fil-Am Summer Picnic as the oldest member of their group. In the summer of 2024, Leonida celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends.

Leonida was a devoted and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Grateful for sharing her life are her daughter, Sharon (Craig) Foreman of Fort Collins, CO; sons, Donald of Sioux Falls and David (Linda) of Colman, SD; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She is also survived by her sister, Neling Villasita, who lives in the Philippines.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her mother and father; three brothers; and three sisters.