Leonard R. Willett

September 28, 1922 - February 8, 2009

Leonard R. Willett, 86, Hot Springs, formerly of Keystone, died Sunday, February 8, 2009, at the S.D. Veterans Home in Hot Springs. Leonard was born September 28, 1922 in Tulare, S.D. to George and Mary Anna (Spear) Willett. He graduated from Tulare High School in 1940. He married Lavilla Doane February 21, 1943 in Brookings. Leonard joined the U. S. Army, April 12, 1943 at Ft. Snelling, MN and was discharged December 28, 1945 from Camp McCoy, WI as an electrician technician 5th Grade. He received a B.S. in mechanical engineering in June of 1947 from SDSC in Brookings. They moved to California in 1951 where Leonard worked for General Dynamics as a Senior Design Engineer in the Atlas Missile section for 30 years before retiring April 1, 1981 to the Black Hills. Leonard was very active in the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years, the Shrine of Democracy Barbershop Chorus, the Little White Church in Hill City, the Black Hills Symphony, VIP as a volunteer, he led the Merry Music Makers singing group, served as president of the Hill City Sr. Citizens for several years, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Lavilla Willett, Hot Springs; a daughter, Cindy Dusing, and her husband Tom, Keystone; 2 sons, Leonard G. Willett, and his wife Deanna, Aroda, Va and Jeff Willett, and his wife Kathy, Antioch, CA; a sister, Marjorie Parke, and her husband Harold, Lead; a brother, David Willett, and his wife, Suzy, Tulare; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Leonard was preceded in death by his son, Laverne.