Lona Leighton

Leona "Lona" M. Leighton, age 92, of Lancaster, passed to her heavenly home on Monday, December 12, 2016, at Atrium Post Acute Care in Lancaster. She was born on February 27, 1924, the daughter of Samuel and Rose (Garvey) Murphy, in Willow Lake, South Dakota. Lona was employed at Savanna Proving Ground in Illinois, an ammunition plant, from 1943 to 1945. On October 15, 1943, she was united in marriage to Lynn Leighton at Fort Meade, MD. They were blessed with two sons, Tarrall and Darrall. She and Lynn owned and operated many bar and food businesses, including the Spot Tavern in Tennyson, throughout their married life. Lona was a great cook always putting a special touch on her food orders. She was a wonderful mother, wife, friend and business partner. Lona had a feisty nature and was a true survivor. She was a member of St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster and St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tennyson.

Survivors include many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Lona was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lynn; an infant son, Tarrall and her darling son, Darrall; her siblings: Esther Temple, Francis Murphy, Aleatha Kadinger, Lila Heck, James Murphy, Lloyd Murphy, Ted Murphy, Sylvester Murphy, and her little bird friend, Skylar.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, December 16, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tennyson with Father Richard Leffler officiating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Prairie du Chien. Family and friends called on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Potosi is serving the family.

A special thank you to Butch and Judy Behncke for all the care they have given as well as the visits from Bill Manthe, Reverend John Sasse and Reverend Richard Leffler.