Leola Jean Dregnie Condotta, who arrived in Richland in 1950 and always considered it her true home, died July 11, 2015. She was 88. Cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

Leola fervently believed she would join her beloved husband, Denny, in heaven. Denny Condotta died in 2004, a few months before the two would have celebrated their 52nd Anniversary.

Leola was born Nov. 7, 1926 in Portland, Ore., to Edward and Hazel Dregnie. Edward Dregnie worked in the phone business and the family lived in Seattle and Spokane during Leola’s childhood. She fondly remembered watching musicals (Judy Garland and Shirley Temple were particular favorites), listening to swing music (she was an avid fan of Tony Bennett) and following Seattle Rainiers’ baseball games on the radio, her father having taught her how to keep score. She had one sister, Betsy, who was born in 1935 and died in 2009.

Leola Condotta graduated from Lewis and Clark High in Spokane and then attended Whitman College, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, graduating in 1948.

Shortly after, she moved to Richland to work for GE and met her future husband via a blind date set up by a roommate, Jeanne Burnham Smith. Denny and Leola Condotta were married on Aug. 28, 1952 in Spokane, and after a few brief detours in California as Denny pursued post-graduate degrees, settled in Richland a few years later.

Oldest daughter Cathi was born in 1954. Another daughter, Diane, was born in 1956, and finally a son, Bob, followed in 1963.

Denny and Leola were well-known in Richland for their involvement in numerous civic and community organizations. Leola was proudly a member of Allied Arts, the Junior Women’s Guild, Questers (of which she served for a year as President) and the Mid-Columbia Symphony Guild, among many notable achievements.

After Denny’s death, Leola established The Condotta Award at Allied Arts, given to an artist whose work has been exhibited in the gallery during the previous year and recognizes originality, mastery of technique and quality of execution and presentation.She was also a member of Christ the King Catholic church.

A new job for Denny moved the family to the Bellevue area in 1978 and later Idaho Falls.

The couple then happily returned to Richland in 1987 as Denny finished a long and distinguished career in nuclear engineering and management, and moved into retirement.

Denny and Leola spent many satisfying years traveling to countries all over the globe (including many of the cities Denny had visited during his 13-month stint overseas during World War II) as well as cruises, frequent trips to Hawaii and a visit to the Alamo and Arizona for spring training.

After their return to Richland, the couple lived in a house on Harris overlooking the Columbia River.

After Denny’s death, Leola moved into Alterra (now Brookdale) assisted living on George Washington Way, where she became a constant presence in card games and bible study, as well as spending many enjoyable hours in the dining room conversing with friends.

She also made frequent visits to homes of her children, as well as a trip to Spokane in 2008 for the Olympic Ice Skating Trails.

Diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in May, Leola put up a valiant fight, assisted greatly by the staff at Brookdale, as well as Heartlinks Hospice.

Survivors include children Cathi Janzing (Bob) of Kent, Diane Morton (Lee) of Las Vegas and Bob Condotta of Auburn; grandchildren Megan Janzing Jones (Jason) of Kent, Kristin Janzing Ahlin (Jerry) of Tacoma, Bryan Janzing (Geneva) of Pasco, Daniella Morton and Paul Morton, of Las Vegas and Curtis Condotta and Marcus Condotta of Auburn. Leola also had five great grandchildren (Alia, Gavin, Hudson and Merrick Jones and Bryce Ahlin).

A funeral service will be held at Christ the King Church on Monday, July 27th at 11:00am with a graveside service and reception to follow.

Any donations should be made to Allied Arts Association, 89 Lee Blvd. Richland, WA 99354.  Please mark donations for the Condotta Award.