Deb Lebo, 74, Boone, Iowa
BOONE, Iowa—With gratitude for a life filled with family, faith, friendship, and shared adventures, Deborah Faye Majors Lebo, 74, of Boone, Iowa, joined her husband in eternal peace on October 6, 2026, after a short illness at Green Hills Retirement Center in Ames, Iowa. Born on February 27, 1952, Deborah grew up in Boone and graduated from Boone Jr. Sr. High School with the Class of 1970. On February 21, 1970, she married Dale Lebo, and together they were blessed with a daughter, Toni.
Deborah built a long and dedicated career as a lab technician with the National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Services, now known as the USDA Research Lab in Ames. She worked there for more than 35 years before retiring in 2011.
Deborah attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone, where she remained deeply active throughout the years in both the church and school. She sang in the choir, played the bells, volunteered as a parent chaperone and driver for student outings, and was always available to whip up a salad or two for church luncheons. Life was full and active for Deborah. She enjoyed several years in a women’s bowling league and stayed busy camping, boating, fishing, riding motorcycles, coaching softball, and planning vacations with close, special friends at their timeshares. In the kitchen, Deborah was known as an excellent cook and baker whose desserts were legendary. Following her retirement, she even catered meals for Dale’s former employer and his wife, delivered medicines for a local Boone pharmacy, and tackled her favorite post-retirement role as a Community Greetings representative for Boone County.
Following these active years, Deborah and her family dedicated themselves to a profound final chapter of love and care. In 2022, her beloved husband, Dale, was involved in a severe motor vehicle accident when another vehicle ran a stop sign. Dale sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Over the next nine months, he received specialized treatment through hospitalizations and rehabilitation at On With Life in Ankeny, Iowa, while Deborah and her family devotedly cared for him at home between stays, surrounding him with comfort until his passing in March of 2023.
In eternal peace, Deb is reunited with her husband, Dale; her parents, Erma and Harold Majors; and her grandparents, Myrtle and Roy Lane: her sister-in-law Rogene: her niece Teddie Handlon: and her nephew Ira Handlon.
Deborah is survived by her daughter, Toni Lebo Tullis (Michael); her twin sister, Donna Majors Jones (Joel); her brother, Ted Handlon; her brother- and sister-in law, Robert and Connie Lebo; her nieces, Casy Anne Jones, Lynn Marie Casey (Dan), Jenna Lee Palmer (Marty), Ryan Lebo, Travis Lebo (Renae), Codie Lebo Burrow (Jamie) many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews and her cherished dog, “TOBY BOY”.
To honor both of their lives a joint memorial tribute celebrating Deborah and Dale will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 1:30 P.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 712 12th Street, Boone, with Rev. Jessten Heimer officiating. All who knew and loved them are welcome to attend and celebrate their beautiful legacy.
In addition to the traditional physical guestbook, the family invites friends to share permanent memories, photos, and condolences online by searching for Deborah and/or Dale’s name at Ames Cremation.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boone Humane Society in honor of Dale or Deborah.
The Ames Cremation and Funeral Care, 717 East Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa is assisting the family with these arrangements.
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