Laura Catherine Lamphere, 80, Sturgis, SD, died at the Sturgis Regional Hospital on February 25, 2006.

Laura was born at Lebam, WA, on April 28, 1925, to Bert C. and Iolet M. (Duty) Thompson. She attended grade and high school at Laramie, WY. She also attended the University of Wyoming. She was married to Oakley O. Lamphere on October 9, 1943, at San Antonio, TX. The couple lived in and near Sturgis since 1952. Laura was a founder of the Northern Hills Alcohol and Drug Center, Co-Founder of Serenity Inc., Co-Founder New Dawn Enterprise, Inc, past chairman of State Division of Alcohol and Drug Commission, and past member of the Governors Advisory council on Alcohol Abuse. She had also been a longtime member of the United Methodist Church and Order of the Eastern Star. Laura served as part of many other volunteer organizations in service to the community.

Laura is survived by her three sons and their families, Marc and his wife, Cindy Reed, Hot Springs, SD; Dale, Sturgis, and his family, Janell Hardy and children, Amy and her husband, Brian Bradley, Hillary Lamphere and son, Patrick, Tyler Lamphere and daughters, Kelsey and Jessie, Tanner Lamphere, Jane Murphy, and Dallerie and Rylan Davis; and Ross and his wife, Jan, Sturgis, and children, Logan Lamphere and Ashley and her husband, Dan Alsup.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Oakley, one sister, Polly (Thompson) Ryan, and one brother, Donald C. Thompson.

Funeral Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis on Thursday, March 2, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Keith Nelson officiating. Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery following the services. Visitation will be at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 from noon until 9:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established to the New Dawn, Inc.