Lena Mae 'Lee' Mallam, age 92, formerly of Hot Springs, SD, passed away on June 17, 2014, at her home in Oral, SD.

Lee was born in Billings, MO on March 11, 1922, to Reverend Lewis and Emma Walker. She married Merle Mallam on December 14, 1955. They spent many years in McAllen, TX, before Merle's death, after which, Lee moved to South Dakota in 2009. She lived at Pine Hills Retirement until she moved out to Oral to live with her niece and nephew Harley & Diane Emick.

Lee spent 28 of her working years at Northwestern National Life Insurance Company (ING) and retired in 1983. She was an avid golfer, reader, counted cross stitcher and computer user: She belonged to Mission Chapter 527 Order of the Eastern Star in McAllen, TX, and was their Pen Pal/Sunshine sender of the birthdays, sympathy, get well, etc. cards for that organization. When she moved up to South Dakota she became a member of Martha Chapter 22 of Eastern Star in Hot Springs.

After moving to Hot Springs she made many new friends and was very happy to be living at Pine Hills. She loved Hot Springs and the surrounding area. She enjoyed her lunches with the Red Hat ladies and her activities with Eastern Star. She was a big booster to the Sandstone Singers and acted as their "Roady" until she could no longer attend performances. Her family was so happy to have her close.

Lee is survived by her niece, Diane (Harley) Emick Oral, SD; nephews, Robert Walker Troy, IL; Lloyd Walker, MO; great nieces, Misty Yount; Mindy (Nick) Buol; Julie Pankow; great nephews, John (Traci) Emick; Jarrod (Sarah) Emick; Jim Walker; great-great nieces, Caitlyn Emick; Acacia and Michaela Helton; Lucia Buol; great-great nephews, Cody Emick; Walker Emick; Xavier Buol; stepdaughter, Carolyn Benson of Banning, CA; as well as several step grandchildren, step great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Merle Mallam; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Hugh E. (Gerda); Ben L. (Lyda) Walker; nephew, Herbert (Nita) Walker, as well as her parents Reverend Lewis Mrs. and Emma Walker.

A memorial will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2014, in the Chapel at Pine Hills Retirement Community in Hot Springs with Pastor Matthew Lim officiating. Interment will be at Blackwell Cemetery in Salem, MO.

A memorial in Lena Mae's name has been established to benefit the Cat's Meow in Hot Springs.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapels of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.