LeAnn Engelson, 84 years old, of Rapid City, died peacefully April 17 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Services will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 22nd with Rev. Tom Martin officiating.

LeAnn Engelson was born September 2, 1924, in Howard, South Dakota, to Lillian and George Q. Runkel. The family moved to Belle Fourche, where she graduated from high school as homecoming queen alongside homecoming king and husband-to-be Donald W. Engelson. She attended the University of South Dakota for a year, and then, on November 18, 1943, she eloped with her true love, Donald Engelson who had joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After living in San Diego and Barstow, CA they moved to Newell, where LeAnn became the proud mother of two sons, Gregory and Brett. The family moved from Newell to Rapid City and then to Belle Fourche to be closer to her parents, George and Lillian Runkel. After George passed away, LeAnn and Lillian moved to Rapid City to be near Bretts family.

LeAnn was an esteemed member of P.E.O. and a valued member of the First Congregational Church in Newell. She was a proud supporter of the Republican Party and a passionate believer in donating to community organizations. A memorial has been established to Storybook Island.

Survivors include: her son, Brett Engelson of Rapid City; Linda Swan of Rapid City; her grandchildren, Amber, Ph.D. student at the University of Massachusetts, David and wife Mandy of Fort Worth, TX, Todd and fianc Lydia Jackson of Rapid City; great-grandchild, Atlas Engelson; her many nieces and nephews; and all the other children she helped raise and love like family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lillian and George Runkel, husband Donald Engelson, and son Gregory.

Arrangements gave been entrusted with Black Hills Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Sturgis. An online guestbook is available to sign at blackhillsfuneralhome.com