The September, 2004 Citizen of the Month is an individual who dedicated a number of years working with individuals through the Literacy Council of the Black Hills and promoting the importance of reading. As Mayor of Rapid City, I am pleased to present the Citizen of the Month award to Bonita Ley.

Bonita is retired from the Douglas school system where she taught elementary education for twenty-eight years. One of her greatest achievements is she is one of the founding members of the Literacy Network and a co-author of the manuals and training aides used at the Network office. Bonita coordinates all the activities of the Network inside and outside of the Mall. She is very active in the Retired Teachers Association and was instrumental in opening the Keystone school in April and May of each year for workshops. Mrs. Ley also provides programs on Carrie Ingalls Swanzey and Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Bonita is very involved in the South Dakota Reading Council and has held numerous offices from 1978 to 1995 on the state level and longer with the Rapid City level. She has been involved with numerous workshops and programs such as the SDEA conferences. Bonita is an active participant with the Mt. Rushmore History Association and, as a native of Keystone, she has great affection for the area.

Bonita volunteers at the Journey Museum with arts and craft projects and the annual Wild West Days. She and her husband Clarence, are active members of Trinity Lutheran Church where they are ushers and greeters. She is also very active with the Church Guild. Bonita and Clarence’s family consists of three grown sons, one in Rapid City and the others in Vancouver and Chicago.