SCOTTSDALEARIZONA--Willa Mae (Ernst) Lein, 89, of Rapid City, a much beloved mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully at the Sherman House Hospice Center in Scottsdale, AZ onTuesday April 29, 2008. Willa Ernst was born on November 16th, 1918 in Floris, Iowa to the late Emmanuel and Iva C. Ernst. When she was four months old the family moved to South Dakota, and homesteaded near the former town of Davenport. She attended grade school in Haakon County, and graduated from high school in Philip. She later graduated from Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls. She married Harold D. Lein on June 11, 1939 in Sioux Falls, and lived there until moving to Rapid City in 1952. In the mid-1950s Harolds work with International Harvester took them to Mitchell, where they remained until returning to Rapid City in 1959. For eighteen years she worked as a cashier and bookkeeper in the dormitory at National College, where over the years she served as a surrogate mother to hundreds of students. As the daughter of a farmer/rancher, she loved to cook and garden. She especially enjoyed her beautiful roses. She also loved to travel, and while she visited numerous countries, her favorite was Norway. Most important to her was her family. She took great pride in her two sons, daughter, their spouses and their children. Much quality time was spent visiting them over the years. These visits will be greatly missed by her family. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Chuck and his wife Sue of Lafayette, LA, Howard and his wife Debbie of Scottsdale, AZ and Julie Brandenburg and her husband Paul of Marysville, WA. She was dearly loved by her nine grandchildren: Kent of Oacoma, Keith of Elizabeth, CO, Steven of Rosemount, MN, Greg of Eagan, MN, Tyler of Scottsdale, AZ, Erica of Los Angeles, Michael Brandenburg of Denver, Matthew Brandenburg of Seattle and Jonathan Brandenburg of Yotsukaido, Japan. She is also survived by a sister, Wilma Daniel of Philip, seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, brothers Orville, Arlo and John and one grandson, Scott. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 PM Sunday, May 4th at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Blvd in Rapid City, and also one hour prior to the funeral on Monday at the church. Services will be at 10:00 AM, Monday, May 5th at Trinity Lutheran Church, 402 Kansas City Street in Rapid City with the Reverend Wilbur Holtz officiating. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery. A reception and celebration of Willas life will be held at the church, following graveside services. Memorials in her name may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of Rapid City, where she had been a member for over fifty years.