Burial will be in Riverside Memorial Cemetery.
There will be a Masonic service and prayer service at 7 p.m. Sunday, with visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Leighton died March 21, 2013, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.
Leighton Getty, son of Frank E. and Ruth M. (Peterson) Getty, was born Jan. 14, 1943, in Aberdeen. He grew up and attended school in Hecla, graduating from Hecla High School with the class of 1961. He attended Northern State Teachers College, where he earned a teaching certificate and began teaching in 1963 in Herreid. From 1964-65, he taught in Trent. He was united in marriage to Kathleen Rich at First Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen on Aug. 12, 1965. In 1967, he earned his bachelor's degree in education from Northern State College. From 1966-74, Leighton was a principal, teacher, coach and several other duties in Wolsey. In 1973, he achieved his master's of education degree from Northern State College. In 1975, he became a teacher for the Northern Brown School District in Frederick, and in 1982, became the superintendent of the new Elm Valley School District in Frederick. In 1982, Leighton earned his specialist degree from North Dakota State University in Fargo. In 1998, Leighton retired from the Elm Valley School District.
During his working career, he developed the first interactive (North Central Area Interconnect) TV classrooms working in real time. He continued to administer NCAI into his retirement.
Leighton organized a high tech consortium that involved the sharing of high tech modules among 13 school districts.
Leighton's spare time was divided among his hobbies of woodworking, gardening, fishing and being an avid hunter, as well as being a tremendous gun advocate.
Leighton was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Yelduz Shrine and Masonic Lodge, where he had been a past Master of Blue Lodge No. 38 from1982-83. He was a former member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where he was on the worship board, properties board and was a offering teller. From 1986-97, Leigton was a member of the Aberdeen Park Board, where he was very involved in the development of the Wylie Park project. He was also part of the Aberdeen Hockey Association, where he worked for the growth of Aberdeen hockey.
Leighton is survived by his wife, Kathie, of Aberdeen; two sons: Chris (Connie) Getty of Aberdeen and Matt (Hilary Meyer) Getty of Denver, Colo.; one half brother, Bill Getty of Bagley, Minn.; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents; one sister; and one half brother preceded him in death.
Casketbearers will be Mark Wickenheiser, Bob Beneke, Scott Kolb, Bonnell Aman, Tom Heis, Tom Scott, Robert Patterson, Myron Isaacson, Will Rust, Don Rust and Bob Wright.
The organist will be Jessie Stucke and there will be special music by the Rev. Bill Nelson-Loefke.
The family prefers memorials to Yelduz Shrine or Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements.
carlsenfh.com