Georgia M. Lease

RAPID CITY | Georgia Marie (Merry) Lease, 91, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at home. She was born May 29, 1925, in Dell Rapids to Grey and Emma (Norgaard) Merry.

Georgia was first majorette at Dell Rapids High School, graduating in 1943. She attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, and then was employed by Pacific Greyhound until 1948, when she married Gordon Lease on Feb. 9, 1948, in Hollywood, CA. They had three children: Susan, Boyd and Claudia.

Georgia was a caring mother and wife for 68-1/2 years. A member of First Baptist Church for 53 years, teaching Sunday School for over 40 years and served as a deaconess and prayer partner for many years.

Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, Emma and Grey Merry; her sister, Jane Brooks; her brother, Milton Merry; her daughter, Claudia (Lease) Simpson, a victim of the 1972 flood; and great-grandson, Bennett Witt.

She is survived by her husband, Gordon, Rapid City; her daughter, Susan Mudlin, Sioux Falls; her son, Boyd (Janice) Lease, Melbourne, FL; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the First Baptist Church, with Pastor Nate Sales officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Interment will be at Mountain View Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the First Baptist Church.