Heaven has a new member in its chorus, Judy Larson passed away July 27 at Rolling Hills Hospice Care, Belle Fourche. SD.

Judy Adelle Lehman was born on October 12, 1942 in Aberdeen, SD.  Her parents, Reuben and LaVerna Lehman, farmed outside of Groton. She was baptized by her grandfather Rev. Frank Wilke. She attended Groton Schools where she was active in chorus, band and editor of the school newspaper.

She graduated in 1961 and then went to Huron College where she was involved in the chorus. Graduating with a BSA degree in Business, she began her teaching career at Augustana Academy, a residential Lutheran high school in Canton. While there she was also advisor to the school newspaper and annual. This is where she met Lennis Larson. She spent a summer as a volunteer at Holden Village, Chelan, WA, a Lutheran Retreat Center and went with NSC on a education trip to Hawaii. Her next teaching assignment was in the Business Department at Mitchell Vocational-Technical School for eight years.

In 1972 she married Lennis Larson at St. John's Lutheran Church in Groton. She continued teaching in Mitchell while living in Parkston where Lennis taught. In 1977 they moved to Spearfish where she began a career at Black Hills State University. She was an Assistant in the Vice President's office where she was in charge of semester registrations. In 1980 she was chosen to be the head of the Career Center Service Department. She and her colleagues across the state started the SD Teacher Job Fair in Sioux Falls.

While she was at BHSU she served on numerous committees. Upon her retirement, Judy worked for Black Hills Counseling Services for four years.

The Spearfish years were productive in volunteering. She served 14 years on Spearfish City Council, President of the SD Municipal League, served on the DC Booth Historic Fish Hatchery Board, Grace Balloch Library Board, Our Savior's Lutheran Church Council, Rapid City and Spearfish Regional Hospital Boards and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. They also hosted four international high school students from Switzerland, Finland, Germany and Denmark. She loved to read, do embroidery projects, and travel – five cruise ship trips, train trip across Canada and a European trip to visit families of their international students

Family and friends who enjoyed sharing Judy's life are: sister-in-law, Janet Lehman of Groton, nephews, Chad (Nacole) Lehman, of Groton and Ward Dirksen of  Alexandria, VA, great nephew, Connor Lehman of Groton, nieces, Jenny Lehman (Tom) Sweeney of Shawnee, KS and Janelle Dirksen (Clay) Wilwert of Dubuque, IA, cousins, Luanne (David) Knutson of Silver Springs, MD and Ernie (Pat) Lehman of Kenmare, ND, friends;Dean and Mary Ann Myers, Steve and Lisa Gabriel and Riley and Barb Chrisman, PEO Sisters Chapter N, Friendship Ministry and Sonshine Squad, OSLC. Many thanks to all who sent flowers, food and cards of well wishes.

Judy was preceded in death by parents, Reuben and LaVerna Lehman, brother, Jerry Lehman, grandparents, Emil and Ella Lehman, Frank and Helen Wilke and aunt, Erna Lehman, uncle and aunt Henry and Dorothy Lehman

Memorials may be given in Judy's memory to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, PEO Sister Chapter N and BHSU Music Department.

Memorial visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00am, Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com