Leslie Ruth Bryant Walden

Leslie Ruth Bryant Walden, 79, of La Junta, Colorado, formerly of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed  away peacefully at home surrounded by love on July 29, 2026, after a long journey with Alzheimer's disease.

Born October 23, 1946, to Julius and Dorothy (Brown) Bryant, Leslie grew up on an Iowa farm, developing the determination, kindness, curiosity, and work ethic that would guide her throughout her life.

At just 15, Leslie began teaching dance. After studying under Jo Ann Mead and Anne Marie McLaughlin, she produced her first recital in Clemons in 1963 and, following her 1964 high school graduation, took over the studio from Anne Marie. For the next 38 years, she taught dance and gymnastics throughout central Iowa, including Marshalltown, Clemons, State Center, Tama, Eldora, and Grinnell.

Teaching was more than Leslie's profession; she remained a student herself. She traveled throughout the United States, including Disneyland and Hawaii, as well as Europe and the Orient, studying with leading dance instructors and bringing what she learned home to her students—even fitting in belly dancing lessons in Turkey.

Known for her elegance, kindness, patience, quick wit, and sense of fun, "Miss Leslie" became a cherished part of childhood for generations of central Iowa families. Her annual dance revues were community efforts involving dance assistants, volunteers, parents who sewed costumes and worked backstage, and, for several years, accompanist Edna Finley. Many of Leslie's students went on to careers in dance and dance education or advanced levels of gymnastics and cheerleading. More important than awards was the confidence, discipline, and love of movement she instilled in them.

In 1973, Leslie married Mel Walden, beginning a partnership filled with love, laughter, travel, golf, and cats they treated very much like children—complete with movie, nap, and play times.  While Mel traveled for competitive slow-pitch softball, Leslie joked that she still had "wrinkles on her butt from the bleachers." His death in 2011 was a loss she carried deeply.

Golf became another defining part of Leslie's life. She competed in club, city, district, and state tournaments, won her club championship an extraordinary ten times between 1995 and 2007, and was part of a state championship team shortly before moving to Colorado. Yet among her most treasured rewards were the lifelong friendships she made with the "Golfing Queens."

Leslie loved gardening and canning in Iowa, collecting seemingly every kitchen gadget ever invented, and trying something new. After Mel's death, she began spending about half of each year in Colorado with Kat and Marnie, returning to Iowa each spring for golf and gardening. She moved permanently to Colorado in 2015, where she continued golfing, discovered pickleball, and built another circle of dear friends. Her adventurous spirit remained intact—perhaps best illustrated by flying upside down on a zip line in Mazatlån with Kat, laughing all the way.

Those Colorado years also brought Leslie and Kat closer and became a treasured gift to them both. During the last 21/2 years, Leslie lived with Kat and Marnie, sharing a special bond with Marnie and finding great joy in the golden retrievers that filled their home. Jordan, in particular, chose Leslie as her person and rarely left her side. When Leslie passed away, Kat, Marnie, and Jordan were there with her, surrounding her with love until her final breath. 

She is survived by her daughter, Katrena (Kat) Walden and daughter-in-law, Marnie Pixley, both of La Junta; sisters-in-law, Jan Walden, Filomena Walden, and Sunny Bryant; nieces and nephews; and generations of former students, golfers, friends, and families whose lives were enriched by knowing her. Leslie was preceded in death by her husband, Mel Walden; parents, Julius and Dorothy Bryant; mother-in-law, Sue Walden; brothers, Daniel and David Bryant; brothers-in-law, Dave and Mike Walden; and two nieces.

The measure of Leslie's life is found not only in the recitals she directed, championships she won, or miles she traveled, but in the confidence she inspired, friendships she cherished, and generations of children who stepped onto a stage believing in themselves because she first believed in them. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Perez & Peacock Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.