Arlis Ley

Arlis Ann Ley was born in Williston, ND to Ellsworth and Eunice (Frantzick) Jacobson. She passed away October 13, 2016 at the age of 66 after dealing with Multiple Myeloma for over 7 years.

Arlis grew up on the family farm at Wildrose, ND and attended country school until sixth grade when students transferred to Wildrose Public School. She had fond memories of her "older" brother (8) and sister (10) driving her to the school three miles from the farm. She graduated from Wildrose High School and attended University of North Dakota - Williston for three semesters.

In December 1969, she married Bruce Ley at Grace Lutheran Church in Wildrose, ND. They enjoyed a wonderful life together. He became her never failing care giver and support as they dealt with the cancer. They lived in Tennessee and California, where their sons Jason and Joshua were born while Bruce was in the Navy. After the Navy they lived in Grand Forks, Dickinson and Williston, ND before moving to Pierre, SD where they lived for 22 years, Rapid City, SD for 9 years and Denver, CO for over 2 years.

Arlis finished her education at Capital University Center in Pierre, receiving an Associate degree in Business from Northern State University and a Bachelor's degree in Business from South Dakota State University. During this time she was employed as an accountant at the South Dakota State Retirement System and the Unified Judicial System. She was active in the Lutheran church, teaching Sunday school when her boys were young. She joined Zonta while in Pierre and was chosen Zontian of the year in 2003.

In 1987 she became a member of P.E.O., which she became passionate about, serving on the state board for two years until her health required her to resign. She remained active at the local level and was one of several involved in chartering a new chapter in Rapid City.

Arlis was blessed with wonderful friends. She loved hers sons and was very proud of the men they became. She was blessed with wonderful daughters-in-law whom she loved spending time with. She was a passionate grandmother and said "grandchildren are life's greatest rewards". She sewed costumes, played farm and video games, walked them to school, went to their programs, dance recitals, games and plays, took them to American Girl Doll stores and just loved spending time with them. She and Bruce traveled to see the grandchildren many times a year.

Arlis loved to play golf, read and quilt. She learned the art of lefse making from her mother-in-law and lefse became a favorite food of the grandchildren.

Arlis is survived by her husband Bruce; son Jason (Stephanie), Clarendon Hills, IL; son Joshua (Alice) Denver, CO; grandchildren Marit, Henning, Andrew and Kate; her sisters Sharon (Bruce) Rosten, Wildrose, ND; Kayleen (Keith) Theesen, Hobart, OK; brothers Dennis (Karen) Jacobson, Wildrose, ND; Bruce Jacobson, Coeur D'Alene, ID; and Eldo Jacobson, Wildrose, ND; and many special nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Adeline and Albert Ley, twin grandsons, sister-in-law Kim Jacobson and several cousins, aunts and uncles.

A memorial service will be held in Pierre, SD at Lutheran Memorial Church on November 19, 2016 at 10:30 AM with a reception following. She will be buried at the Fort Meade National Cemetery in South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oahe Foundation, Arlis Ley Scholarship Fund for Capital University Center, PO Box 998, Pierre, SD 57501, P.E.O. Chapter AB, 925 E Sioux, Pierre, SD 57501 or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org.