Elizabeth (Sunny) Ludeman passed away on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care Center. Born in Mitchell, SD, April 1, 1910, to John and Mabel Sanger, Sunny grew up on a family farm near Alexandria, SD.with brother, Hobart. After graduation as valedictorian and varsity basketball she was offered to learn teletype, replacing Morse Code. After graduation with a unique skill she found employment in Mitchell, meeting the love of her life, Harold, at the Corn Palace watching him play basketball. Harold and Sunny (he named her), were married July 31, 1933; the Great Depression demanded only one spouse work, so the marriage was kept a secret. Then Harold russeled employment with Homestake near the end of the Depression, Sunny headed west by train. Sunny was offered a job at Annie Creek Mine as the Superintendents secretary, staying at the boarding house, hitching a ride to Lead every weekend. For years, the couple laughed about their early marriage experiences, which proved to be happy and full of fun. When they started their family, Sunny stayed at home, nurturing and caring for their four children until the early 1960s when the couple started the Western Market in Lead. They operated the grocery business ten years, delivering groceries, butchering customers meat, and hiring high school students, many of whom credited the Ludemans for their encouragement and opportunity to attend college. Sunny devotedly supported Harold while he served as Leads Mayor for several years; another highlight was the couple designing and constructing floats for the annual Labor Day parade. Sunny took great pride in making or finding costumes for kids to ride on the floats. She loved living in Lead and remained there for 73 years.

Among awards presented to Sunny were LHS Mascot of the Year at a high school basketball game and Master Deacon from Lead First Presbyterian Church, being active many years. She was a member of UPW; Lead Beautification Committee; the original Bidawee sewing club; PEO; and the Montpelier Bunch, a group of families transferred to Idaho by Homestake for a war effort project during WWII.

Sunny was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in 1981, a granddaughter, Sarah Ludeman; brother Hobart, and her parents. She is survived by four children and spouses: Clinton and Maybeth Ludeman, Kansas City, MO: Karen and Richard Harvey, Wasilla, AK; Diane and Robert Bogner, Miles City, MT; Jane and Paul Berry, Deadwood; twelve grandchildren: Michael, Ermalyn, Richard Jerome, Karl, John, Jana, Bryan, Lynette, Marna, Kyle; Jennifer and Betsy and seventeen great-grandchildren; Joey, Matthew, Kendra, Brent, Ryan, Kelsey, Mitchell, Ben, Emma, Grace, Easton , Carlo, Ryen, Drew, Briar, Owen, and Bru.

One of Sunnys favorite quotes, which she always considered an inspiration on how she lived her life, was that of Grantland Rice:
When the one Great Scorer comes to write against your name; He writes not if you won or lost, but how you played the game.

A celebration of Sunnys life is being planned for this summer.

A memorial has been established in Sunny's name, please send C/O Jane Berry 11812 Ranch Road Sturgis, SD 57785.