Lisa Droz, 62, of Rapid City and formerly of Miller, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at her daughters’ home in Faulkton, after a courageous battle with stage IV glioblastoma brain cancer.

Memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, June 25, 2021, at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller, with Rev. Brian Jones officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.

Lisa Marie Letsche was born on June 4, 1959 in Huron, SD to Travis & Shirley (Mortenson) Letsche. She lived near Wessington, SD with siblings Gayle, Vanessa, Teresa, Scot, & Terry. Lisa attended grade school at Rose Hill Rowen Country School and was active in 4-H and cheerleading. Lisa was crowned homecoming queen in 1976 and she graduated from Miller High School in 1977. Throughout her life, she remained closely knit to her Class of ’77 and organized many reunions. Following high school, Lisa united in marriage with Greg Droz. To this union came 4 children: Bryan Thomas, Nichole Lee, Lora Lynn, and Taylor Lowell. Lisa and Greg lived in and were a part of the South Hand County community for over 30 years.  Lisa loved living on the farm and did everything she could to assist in the business side of things up until the sale of the farm in 1999.

Lisa was blessed with seven grandchildren: Peyton, Emry, Ryan, Kash, Zane, Nora, & Vivienne, whom she cherished and spoiled every chance she got. Being the true librarian she was, most gifts to her grandchildren consisted of books.  You would see her reading to them whenever she could. Even though she lived far from them, Grandma Lisa did everything she could to attend her grandchildren’s events and activities. When they came out to the Black Hills to visit her, she became their ultimate tour guide, making memories with them forever.

Lisa met the love of her life, Jim Sznajder, in 2010. They were united in marriage on Friday, November 13, 2020, in Rapid City. In many ways, Lisa would tell you that Jim truly saved her life. He taught her how to live her life to the fullest, while also cherishing every moment on this earth. They were inseparable; going on many different trips across the country, stopping to golf whenever possible. Jim definitely brightened her world and kept her laughing 24/7.

Throughout her life, Lisa wore many hats and earned many different titles. Some of her vast array of careers/achievements include: college student, Huron Public librarian, bus driver for the Sturgis Rally as well as Foreman’s of Miller, tour guide, Uber/Lyft driver, Rapid City Civic Center ticket taker, published author, South Hand Old Settlers’ Picnic volunteer, US Census taker, Master Gardener, substitute teacher at Millerdale Colony, farm wife, Head Start aide, lunch lady at Miller High School, Farm Service Agency aide, small business owner of Digital Memories, Allen Credit & Debt Counselor, mother, grandmother, and her most recent career, librarian at St. Elizabeth Elementary School in Rapid City. Lisa worked in the Rapid City Catholic School system for the past 7 years. Her favorite activities were reading to her students and running St. Elizabeth’s after-school program. Her students knew her as Ms. Lisa. She worked her hardest up until her diagnosis on March 1, 2021.

Lisa enjoyed traveling, meeting new people, cheering on the Red Sox & Seahawks with Jim (while teasing her sons after every Vikings loss), quilting (Jim says the quilting economy will surely take a hit), attending concerts, hiking (she hiked Terry Peak twice), biking, golfing (she had a hole-in-one in 2019) and exploring the great outdoors. She also loved baking and making Christmas goodies & pies. However, Lisa was most passionate about her writing. She published hundreds of articles and blogs that were featured in various magazines, websites, and newspapers. Her most accomplished work was her book entitled “A Year Full of Grace” in 2016.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Jim of Rapid City; children: Bryan (Erica Sunde) Droz of Sioux Falls; Nikki (Craig) Jones of Crooks; Lora (Gene) Holt of Wecota; and Taylor (Chelsea) Droz of Miller and her seven grandchildren: Peyton, Emry, Kash, Ryan, Zane, Nora, and Vivienne.

Lisa was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley; her sister, Teresa; her grandparents: Mac and Freda, Margaret, Erwin and Erma.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to https://give.abta.org/MyMarathonForMom.  Her son, Taylor, is running the Chicago marathon raising money for The American Brain Tumor Association.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Lisa’s arrangements.

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