Anna was born on August 27, 2004, as Yana Alexandrovna Turchinovich, in the Novosibirsk (Cherepanovo), Siberia, region of Russia. On October 26, 2006, Anna, along with her brother, Alexander, and parents, Fran (Dickey) and Michael LeFort, formed a family and established home in Rapid City, S.D.
After nearly 10 years in South Dakota, the family moved to Ann Arbor, Mich. in August 2016. In February 2017, Anna contracted influenza and pneumonia, and wound up fighting a courageous 6-week battle with the disease before passing away April 5, 2017. Memorial services were held in McComb, Miss., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Rapid City, SD.
Anna attended Children’s House Montessori School, Corral Drive Elementary, and Southwest Middle School in Rapid City and Forsythe Middle School in Ann Arbor. She was an honor student and an outstanding athlete. At Forsythe, she was a member of the Vikings soccer team and synchronized swimming team, and played travel softball for Dexter’s U12 team. In Rapid City, she played ASA travel softball and also had been a Black Hills Rapids travel soccer player. In addition, she was a member of Corral Drive, YMCA, and Southwest Middle School’s girls volleyball teams.
Beyond her athletic ability, Anna may have been best known for her compassion. In Rapid City, Anna was a regular volunteer at the Humane Society of the Black Hills, where she walked dogs and cuddled cats. She also served others as a member of Southwest Middle School’s student council. In Ann Arbor, she had registered to become a mentor for her disabled peers as an eighth-grader next year at Forsythe Middle School and was looking to join the student council.
It is Anna’s caring, giving spirit that prompted Forsythe Middle School to graciously create an annual award in Anna’s name, which celebrates middle school students who show kindness and service to others.
Anna was creative and artistic, and left her family with countless homemade treasures as daily, tangible remembrances of her thoughtfulness: Her intricate drawings, delicate watercolors, sweet cards, notes, and letters, glittery picture frames, machine-sewn pillows, and the untold number of gifts she made with love. She was also very imaginative in the kitchen, loved baking, and created a birthday cake from scratch for her mother just days before her illness.
Anna had come to understand at a young age that true joy and happiness could be found in giving to others.