Leona G. Dittman, 81, Rapid City, died Sunday, January 26, 2003, in Rapid City.

She was born Sept. 10, 1921, at Fulton, S.D., the daughter of Austin and Mary (Richards) Benson. She graduated, valedictorian of her class, from Fulton High School in 1940. Following graduation she worked in Mitchell and Minneapolis and then worked in the Kaiser Shipyards in California. She returned to S.D. and was employed by Dahle Jewelry Store in Mitchell.

Leona married Walter E. "Bud" Dittman on January 17, 1946, at Mitchell. They moved to Rapid City in 1953 and Leona was employed by Meadowbrook Elementary School, Western Printing and Publishing, Valley Green Lawn and Garden Center and most recently at Rudolph's Shoes & Fashions.

She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the First United Methodist Church.

Leona left an incredible legacy of love and concern for her family and friends.

Survivors include her children, Barb Rollins and husband Roger, Aiken, S. Carolina, Janice Owens and her husband Paul, Coolville, Ohio, Dick Dittman and his wife Susan, Rapid City, and Jackie Dittman, Rapid City; two sisters, Wilma Smith, National City, California, and Rose Bricker, Mitchell, S.D.; grandchildren, Shane Bradford, Tom Wethor, Keri Truhe, Trent Owens, Kim Woodward, Paul Wayne Owens, Connie Dittman and Jamie Dittman; great-grandchildren, Christian Wethor, Allyson Wethor, Shayna Bradford, Victoria Truhe, Nathaniel Wethor and one more Bradford infant on the way.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Osheim-Catron Funeral Home.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Doug Diehl officiating.