Leattrice Elaine Droste, 76, of Mesa, AZ passed away August 9, 2011.

Her funeral service will be Monday, August 15, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield, SD.

Burial will follow in the Athol Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday for two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. (www.thelenfuneralhome.com)


She was born March 26, 1935 in Tulare, South Dakota to Harry and Verda (Smith) Tomsha. She grew up on a farm near Tulare and graduated from Tulare High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Daryl Weideman, August 8, 1953 in Tulare, South Dakota. They started their married life while Daryl was a paratrooper stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. While he was in the service, she worked as a civil service employee at different bases. During her career, she worked for Boeing, Northwestern Bell in Rapid City, and Omaha then AT&T in Orlando, Florida. She retired from the Telephone Company with over 25 years of service. Leattrice and Daryl retired in Mesa, Arizona where she worked as a realtor. She was proud to be named "Realtor of the Year." Leattrice and Daryl celebrated their 50 year anniversary before he passed away.

In 2006, Lea met and married Dr. Del Droste. They enjoyed their lives, traveling, dancing, listening to music and being with their families.

She leaves to mourn her husband, Del, her daughter, Sandra Lea Trueman; three sons, Steven Daryl Weideman; Mark Alan Weideman, Kirk Alvin (Beth)Weideman. stepdaughter, Carol (Justin) Hove; Stepsons; David (Kellie) Droste, Paul (Gina) Droste, 14 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren and three sisters, Harriet Otto, Geneva Sheflo and Pamela Lueth and a sister-in-law, Linda Tomsha

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Daryl, her father, mother, and brother Harry Tomsha Jr. and two brother-in-laws; Bob Sheflo and Terry Otto