Ramona Louise Roadifer was born on December 8, 1928 in Wahpeton, ND to Henry and Myrtle Haugen. She was the youngest of five children, and the only girl. The family moved to Custer, SD, when she was ten.

Ramona graduated from Custer High School in 1946. While in high school, she worked at the Custer Movie Theater where she met Roy Roadifer, who was a couple of years older, and on his way to serve in World War II. When he returned, they married in a small ceremony on November 16, 1947. As Ramona remembered well, they only had two dimes to their name.  They were married for 73 years before Roy passed away in 2020.

Roy and Ramona lived in campus housing at the South Dakota School of Mines while Roy attended college. They started their family there while Roy finished school. Hired by Mobil Oil Corp. shortly after graduating with a degree in Geology, the family moved to Casper, WY. A few years later, Roy took a position which brought the family of four kids to Tripoli, Libya. They lived there for six years.

When they came back to America, they lived in New Orleans, Dallas, New Jersey and Connecticut. On retirement they settled back in Custer with a second home in Southern California. In 2007, they gave up their second home to reside in Custer full time.

Ramona was a talented painter and loved to play the piano and harmonica. She loved crocheting, sewing and cross stitching. She inspired a love of creativity and imagination in her children and grandchildren. When you think of Ramona, you think:  Strong. Resilient. Stubborn. Tenacious. Selfless. Forgiving. Gracious. Generous. Hilarious. Loving. A storyteller.

Ramona was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Ramona passed away peacefully on December 30, 2022 in Rapid City, SD. She was 94 years old. She was preceded in death by her son, Dana (7), and her husband, Roy (94). She is survived by her children Laura, Peggy, and Rodney (Nancy); six grandchildren, Ryan (Beth), Brianna (Chris), Shanna (Andy), Daniel, Travis (Cydni), and Victoria; and one great-grandchild, Audrey.

We love her so much and will never stop missing her. As she always said with every toast – “To Love and Family.”