Leola Witt

Leola Witt, age 93, of Lemmon, SD, passed away on Sunday morning, October 15, 2023 at the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD.

Funeral services for Leola will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023 at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Lemmon, SD.  Pastor Spencer Allen will officiate with burial to follow in the Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

Leola Irene Crow Witt was born on Dec. 4, 1929 in Fayette, IA, to Harold and Mary (Lockner) Crow. Leola moved to Perkins County, SD with her parents. She went to school in Haynes, ND. She moved to Lemmon, SD with her parents where she graduated from high school in 1948. She received her teaching certificate from Northern in Aberdeen, SD and taught school for one year.

Leola married Robert 'Bob' Witt on Dec. 24, 1948. They welcomed their son, James LeRoy, to the family in Aug. of 1949. He was soon followed by Lyle Duane in Jan. 1951; Joyce Lucille in Oct. 1952; Daniel Lee in Sept. 1957; Thomas Jeffery in Nov. 1958; Michael David in Aug 1961; and Jerald Ray in Aug. 1964.

In 1955, Bob and Leola moved to the farm southeast of Lodgepole, SD. In 1963, they moved their family to Bob's parent's farm, where they remained until Bob's health started to fail. They then moved to Hettinger, ND until Bob's passing in 2012. Leola then moved to an apartment in Lemmon, SD where she was known for her 'waffle suppers' by the residents of the apartment complex.

Bob and Leola enjoyed trips to Canada to visit relatives and to Hawaii. Leola was known by family and friends for her delicious donuts, caramel rolls and pie (all of which she made from scratch!). She enjoyed hosting big family dinners and had a huge kitchen to accommodate family and friends. While her children were still in school, Leola worked at the City Cafe in Hettinger, ND, then drove school bus for the Bison School District. She was active in the Lodgepole Community where she belonged to the Sidney Sunshine Club, and helped organize the Jack of All Trades held at the Lodgepole Hall. She, also, belonged to a TOPS group in Hettinger, ND where she was crowned 'Queen for the biggest weight loss'. She submitted the Lodgepole happenings for the Adams County Record for many years.

As her health failed, she moved to the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon, SD where she remained until her death.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Duane) Bauman of Rock Springs, WY; sons, Tom (Brenda) of Hazel, SD and Jerry of Lemmon, SD; a sister, MaryLou Delzer of Aberdeen, SD; 17 grandchildren; 71 great grandchildren; 17 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

 Leola was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents and parents-in-law; sons, James, Lyle, Daniel and Michael; brothers, Eugene, Richard, David and Harold Jr; brother-in-law, Al Delzer; grandchildren Jared Lewton, Johnny and Robert Aaron Witt and Amy and Angie Witt.