In Loving Memory of Connie
Connie’s life was a testament to the family she built and the legacy she upheld. A mother from a young age, she showed her strength and resilience early on. Born in Reliance, South Dakota, to Carl and Irene Lester, her story began in a humble tar paper shack. Her father, wanting more for his family, laid the foundation for a successful hotel business in Chamberlain, South Dakota, before moving his family to Rapid City where he built three hotels and instilled in his children the value of hard work. In 1982, Connie and her family officially joined the family business.
She started her journey in the Quality Inn Restaurant on Mt. Rushmore Rd. before she and her three brothers—Gary, Steve, and Greg—took on the management of the property together. The family business became a training ground where she and her children, nieces, and nephews learned the hard work and dedication it took to operate a successful hotel. After her father’s passing, Connie took an ambitious and courageous step. In 2001, she bought the Grand Gateway Hotel and Foothills Inn from her family to launch the third generation of hoteliers, with her own children at the helm. This was more than a business; it was the family farm, a place where she and her siblings were raised and worked from childhood. This dedication to her family’s roots and a legacy built on sweat and determination was a defining part of who she was.
For decades, Connie and her family worked side by side to build and operate the Foothills Inn and Grand Gateway Hotel. Known for her unwavering work ethic and fierce independence, Connie embodied the spirit of the Black Hills—resilient, plain-spoken, and unafraid to stand by her convictions. A woman of deep faith, her love for God and Jesus Christ was a constant source of strength and wisdom. She shared this wisdom freely with friends, family, and employees, treating most everyone like they were her own children. Anyone she encountered, from her children’s friends to her employees, was met with kindness and respect.
While public headlines often portrayed her in one light, those closest to Connie knew a different woman—one defined by her immense generosity, her quick wit, and her unbreakable loyalty. She was a strong woman who wasn’t afraid to stand by her convictions, even when her strength was misunderstood.
Connie is survived by her children: Leslie Sherry (Mike), Chad Uhre (Lisa), Josh Uhre (Amy Jenson), Nick Uhre, and Judd Uhre (Alexandra), her brother, Greg Lester, 16 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Irene Lester, her son, Rodney Antes, her brothers, Gary Lester and Steve Lester.