Jerry Edward Leitheiser

Gerald Edward Leitheiser…

“Milkman”
was born on June 25, 1938 to Wilfred and Lillian (Sievers) Leitheiser in Bridgewater, South Dakota. The family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Jerry attended Whittier Grade School, Evergreen Country School and then Baltic High School where he graduated in 1957. In 1958, he was united in marriage to LaVonne Gregg and to that union four children were born. For a time he was a bricklayer, even helping with the Calumet Inn in Pipestone. He moved to California where he worked maintenance for an aircraft company. Upon returning to Pipestone, he worked a variety of jobs until the early 80’s when he became an over-the-road truck driver for over 20 years. In early 2000, he retired and worked part-time for Uilk Custom Chopping. He passed away at his home in Pipestone on Monday, September 26, 2016 at the age of 78 years.

Jerry enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and having coffee at K & J’s Repair Shop in the morning. He was always happy to get together with his family and friends.

He is survived by four children, Rick, Penny, Terry and Cristy; his mother, Lillian Leitheiser of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four siblings, Diane Gunderson of Sioux Falls, Dennis Leitheiser of Renner, South Dakota, Bonnie Dewar of Sioux Falls, and Dorothy (James) Koska of Vancouver, Washington; his beloved life partner, Lorraine Schroer of Edgerton, Minnesota; five step children, Terry (Jody) Norling of New Holstein, Wisconsin, Shelly (Chris) Hoffman and Diana (Dan) Graf, both of Sioux Falls, Mary Schroer and Herman Schroer, both of Pipestone, Minnesota; step daughter-in-law, Toni Norling of Worthington, Minnesota; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill; one sister, Debbie and brother-in-law, Leno Martell; step son, Raymond and nephew, Ron Gunderson.