Leona Rafferty  Lemmon, SD

Funeral services for Leona Rafferty, age 84, of Lemmon will be 1:00pm Sunday, January 23, at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Lemmon with Pastor Tom Penning, officiating. Burial will be 1:00pm Monday, January 24, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey. Serving as casketbearers are Bill Hourigan, Ron Cornelius, Bob Raney, Jack Rafferty, Tim Sauter, and Pat Dalzell.

LEONA SAUTER was born May 1, 1920 in McLaughlin, SD to Jacob and Katherine (Wolfer) Sauter.

On March 10, 1943, she was united in marriage to Arthur Rafferty at Plevna, MT. They lived at Fort Riley, KS until Art was shipped overseas during World War II. Leona worked in sewing factories helping with the war effort. Following Art's discharge in 1946, they returned to Lemmon.

Leona was a full time stay at home mom while her kids were attending school. In 1966, she began working at the Ben Franklin store where she worked until her retirement. Her husband Art passed away on October 14, 1997.

Leona was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2004 and since then has resided at the N.C. Little Hospice in Edina, MN so she could be near her son. She passed from this life there on Wednesday evening January 19, at the age of 84 years, 8 months, 18 days.

Leona had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed gardening and working in her yard.

Surviving family members are her son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Jody Rafferty, Edina, MN; 4 grandchildren, Jenifer and her husband Jon Lowell, Kristin Rafferty and Keith Ellenberg, Charlynn Rafferty, Bailey Rafferty (daughter of Jim Rafferty), and 1 great grandson Brayden Ellenberg.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and 1 son James Rafferty. Visitation will be Saturday 1:00 to 7:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Sunday one hour prior to services at the Reformed Presbyterian Church.