Emma Dugger, 93, of Sun Lakes, AZ, died at the Hospice of the Valley in Chandler, AZ, on Friday evening, April 24, 2009 with her family at her side.

Visitation will be from 9:00a.m. until 1:00p.m. with funeral services beginning at 1:00p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2009 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish, SD, with Pastor Peg Grzelkowski and family members officiating, burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.

Memorials will be given to Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ.

Emma was born on December 24, 1915 at home near Highmore, SD; she grew up in Gettysburg, SD, and married Grover "Roy" Dugger on December 24, 1934. The couple moved to Deadwood, SD, in 1942 where Roy worked for Twin City Motors as the shop foreman. A son Derwin was born in 1946. The family returned to the Gettysburg area in 1952 to the family ranch on the Missouri River at Whitlock's Crossing.

Emma was recruited to teach school at a country one room school in 1954. This is when Emma started attending college by extension classes and summer schools. She attended colleges at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and Black Hills State University in Spearfish. She taught elementary school in the Gettysburg area, including Lebanon and various other country schools. In 1963, she was offered a teaching position in the Spearfish Public Schools. Emma continued her education and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education in August of 1965 from Black Hills Teacher's College. She continued to attend graduate school working towards a Masters Degree.

Emma taught elementary school in Spearfish and was honored as Teacher of the year for Spearfish Public Schools in 1981 and was nominated for Teacher of the year for the state of South Dakota in 1982. She was a member of the National Education Association, South Dakota Department of Education, Spearfish Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma and Alpha Delta Kappa. She retired from teaching in 1985 and became very active in the Senior Citizens Associations in Spearfish. Emma moved to Sun Lakes, AZ in 1995 with her granddaughter and became active in numerous associations in the Sun Lakes area.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents and husband Roy, four brothers and three sisters. She is survived by three sisters, Leona Sterry of Mesa, AZ, Rose Dillion of Casper, WY, and Lavone Bossert of Florence, KY. She is also survived by her son Derwin and his wife Mona of Sun Lakes, granddaughter Nichole of Mesa, grandson Derran and wife Dona of Mankato, MN, and great grandson Cameron.