Marjorie Ann Leischuck Balcerovich was born on May 23, 1929, in Ramah, Colorado, to Steve and Nellie Leischuck. She was the eldest of six. On Friday, November 14, 2025, at 96 and a half years of age, she passed away in her Denver home.
After graduating from Ramah High School, Marjorie enrolled in Colorado State Teachers’ College, now the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), to pursue an undergraduate degree in primary education.
Bernard & Marjorie Balcerovich married in 1949. Bernard was an Elbert County wheat farmer and cattle rancher, as well as a custom wheat cutter throughout the region. They had one son, Steven. During summers and school breaks throughout their life together, Marjorie worked as Bernard’s summer ranch hand, driving a tractor and preparing meals for Bernard’s wheat-cutting employees – all while raising a son, maintaining a home and career, square dancing, refining her superb oil-painting skills, and entertaining friends. After forty-four years of marriage, her beloved Bernard Balcerovich unexpectedly passed away on December 3, 1993.
In 1947, Colorado faced a severe shortage of public-school teachers. Before completing her college degree, Marjorie secured a special dispensation from the State of Colorado and was dispatched to teach in a one-room, multi-grade schoolhouse north of Kiowa. While teaching full-time, she completed her undergraduate degree and earned a master’s degree from the University of Denver.
She spent the overwhelming majority of her career – 52 years in all – teaching elementary school in Elbert County, CO, all but one in Kiowa.
Mrs. B, as her students called her, adored children. She dedicated countless volunteer hours beyond the school day to wholesome school activities and helping students with homework, classroom projects, special events, and tutoring – all in service of enriching her students' lives and providing them a strong foundation for navigating life. Throughout her retirement, Marjorie maintained relationships with many of her former students and their families, some of whom she taught for three consecutive generations.
Among the many acknowledgements she received at her retirement in 1999 were those from then-U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and then-Governor Bill Owens, who signed an official proclamation designating September 12, 1999, as Marjorie Balcerovich Day in the State of Colorado. The Kiowa elementary school library was named in her honor and bears her name to this day.
Upon retirement, Marjorie became a snowbird, spending half the year in her home outside Kiowa in rural Elbert County, CO, and the other half in Phoenix, AZ. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, and South America, often with her son. She excelled as a highly gifted painter and Afghan knitter. She was always up for an adventure (flying in a helicopter over Maui and trying exotic foods from faraway lands). She loved a fresh shrimp cocktail.
Marjorie spent her final decade as a beloved resident of Brookdale Park Place in Denver, CO, where she looked forward to brunches and outings with her son, Steven; Bronco games, where she rooted for her favorite quarterback, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs; weekly culinary adventures and movie dates with her honorary son, Ken Smith, with whom she acquired a taste for Vietnamese Pho, Indian food, and Thai noodles with shrimp. She also cherished her annual extended holiday excursions to Phoenix, AZ, from mid-November through December.
Marjorie is survived by her son, Steven Balcerovich, of CO; sister, Gerrie Fleenor, of NE; brothers, Gerald Leischuck, of AL, and Robert (Bob) Leischuck of CO; niece, Kendra Miller, her husband, Kyle, and their young son, Greyson, of AZ; nieces, Marcy Bryan of KY, Noni Robinson-Clark of TX, Jody Medina of VA, and Sheila Cain of WA; and nephews, Lary Robinson of NE, and Ed Leischuck of CO.
Among Marjorie’s hundreds of former students is Father Erin Kochivar, who will preside over her Funeral Mass on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church, 34201 County Road 33, Kiowa, CO 80117.
Immediately preceding the Funeral Mass, harpist Marti Longo will offer a 45-minute sacred music prelude in the parish nave. A casual reception will follow the Funeral Mass in the parish basement. Former students, fellow teachers, and all who knew Marjorie and want to help commemorate her life are welcome to participate.
We extend a warm and sincere thank you to the parishioners and volunteers of Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church for graciously preparing the reception. We also extend a warm and sincere thank you to Father Jonathon Hank of Holy Ghost Church in Denver, Father Vincent Phung, and Healing Ministry Coordinator Connie Sperberg of Mother of God Catholic Church in Denver, for their prayers, visits, and sacraments during Marjorie's brief time in home hospice.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing in Marjorie Balcerovich’s name to the Kiowa Creek Community Church Foodbank, 231 Cheyenne Street, P.O. Box 778, Kiowa, CO 80117.