Leo Leslie

LEO JAMES LESLIE was born on June 29, 1935 to Roy and Viola (Shannon) Leslie in Luverne, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm in Springwater Township, Rock County, Minnesota. He attended country school for seven years and then to school in town for his 8th grade year. His first job was putting in natural gas lines in Luverne. He then entered the United States Army and had his basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was then stationed in California and Oahu, Hawaii. On December 16, 1957 he was united in marriage to Marjorie Marie Theresia Korteum at the Pipestone County Courthouse. After their marriage the couple lived in Jasper, Minnesota. Marge preceded him in death on July 7, 2015. Leo continued to live in their home in Jasper until July of 2017 when he moved to Garretson, South Dakota.

Leo enjoyed working as a tractor mechanic. He worked for International in 1958 and also for Jim Roloffs in Edgerton for a couple of years. While living in Jasper he worked for John Deere in Pipestone for over 38 years. He also started his own business, R & L Services which he owned and operated for two years. In his later years he worked for the Jasper Elevator and also helped local farmers with transport during harvest time.

Leo was a member of the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a volunteer with the Jasper Fire Department from 1961-1986. He was a member of the Jasper Lions Club and also was a part time police officer. He enjoyed helping with 4-H, went to rodeos, fished, golfed, and went to horse shows. He like driving truck (his CB handle was “Kanuck”) and helping farmers with crops. He passed the time shooting pool and was a part of the “Old Farts” pool team. He was also a member of the Jasper Goat Club from 1977-2005.

Leo passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at the Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau, South Dakota after a short stay there.

Leo is lovingly remembered by his children, Jeff (Lois) Leslie of Jasper, Minnesota, Robin (Reuben) Leslie of Jasper, Wendy (Mark) Wiese of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and Penney (Denny Garry) Franka of Garretson, South Dakota; step-children, Cheryl (Keith) Stoltenberg of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Judy (Randy) Whiteside of St. Paul, Minnesota, Rick (Kris) Skyberg of Columbia Falls, Montana, Peggy Reagan of Big Lake, Minnesota, Terry (Jackie) Skyberg of Jasper, Minnesota, and Debbie Skyberg of St. Paul, Minnesota; two sisters, Alta (Lloyd) Holling of Faribault, Minnesota, and Ruth Muller of Riverton, Wyoming; 21 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marge; his parents, Roy and Viola; sisters, Georgia Bailey, Mildred Duffney, and Evelyn (Kletschka) Castanese; brothers, Meryl and Howard Leslie; and one step-daughter, Starr Skyberg.