1948
Leon
2013
Leon Smith
June 17, 1948 — August 16, 2013
Funeral services for Leon Smith of Donnelly, MN will be held Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Morris. Reverend Paul Erdal will be officiating. Visitation will be held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in St. Theresia's cemetery near Donnelly
Leon Richard Smith was born to Kenneth and Veronica (Blees) Smith in Morris, MN on June 17, 1948. He attended school in Morris, MN graduating with the class of 1966. He proudly entered the Marine Corps in 1967, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1970.
He met the love of his life, Marilyn Kalmoe and they were united in marriage on May 20, 1972. They spent the next 41 years together raising a family, farming, milking cows and eventually traveling the world in the last ten years of their marriage. He enjoyed the richness of the land and all the goods that God allowed him to grow and raise. He is most known for his sense of humor, his big smile, and being a friend to everyone.
Leon was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Funeral Honor Guard, the Donnelly Rod and Gun Club and the Rendsville Township Board. In the later years of his retirement, he loved to go and shake dice with his coffee shop buddies, enjoyed being the 'hired man with no pay' to his son, continuing to raise beef cattle, farming when it was convenient and otherwise traveling with Rustad Bus Tours around the world with his "Sweet Pea".
Leon loved life, loved his Lord, loved his family and was not ready to go HOME until recently; he had too much he wanted to see and do yet here on earth. He fought the good fight, told us all how much he loved us and how proud he was of our accomplishments. He said good-bye and got to go HOME to his Lord surrounded by his family.
Leon died Friday, August 16, 2013 at his home in Donnelly, having lived to reach the age of 65 years.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; son, Steven (Kathleen) Fischer-Jacob, Andrew and Zachary of Horace, ND; son, Christopher (Janelle) Smith-Addison and Cole of Donnelly, MN; daughter, Cathy (Lorin) Miller-Veronica and Benjamin of Kindred, ND; mother, Veronica Smith of Morris, MN; brothers, Charles and Gwen Smith of Madison, MN; James(Beverly) Smith of Glenwood, MN; brothers-in-law, Paul (Pat) Kalmoe of Phoenix, AZ; Robert (Belinda)Kalmoe of Weatherford, TX; sister-in-law, Alice Edwards of Madison, TN and 8 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and nephew, Randy Kalmoe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Knute Nelson Hospice or to the CaringBridge organization.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
Leon Richard Smith was born to Kenneth and Veronica (Blees) Smith in Morris, MN on June 17, 1948. He attended school in Morris, MN graduating with the class of 1966. He proudly entered the Marine Corps in 1967, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1970.
He met the love of his life, Marilyn Kalmoe and they were united in marriage on May 20, 1972. They spent the next 41 years together raising a family, farming, milking cows and eventually traveling the world in the last ten years of their marriage. He enjoyed the richness of the land and all the goods that God allowed him to grow and raise. He is most known for his sense of humor, his big smile, and being a friend to everyone.
Leon was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Funeral Honor Guard, the Donnelly Rod and Gun Club and the Rendsville Township Board. In the later years of his retirement, he loved to go and shake dice with his coffee shop buddies, enjoyed being the 'hired man with no pay' to his son, continuing to raise beef cattle, farming when it was convenient and otherwise traveling with Rustad Bus Tours around the world with his "Sweet Pea".
Leon loved life, loved his Lord, loved his family and was not ready to go HOME until recently; he had too much he wanted to see and do yet here on earth. He fought the good fight, told us all how much he loved us and how proud he was of our accomplishments. He said good-bye and got to go HOME to his Lord surrounded by his family.
Leon died Friday, August 16, 2013 at his home in Donnelly, having lived to reach the age of 65 years.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; son, Steven (Kathleen) Fischer-Jacob, Andrew and Zachary of Horace, ND; son, Christopher (Janelle) Smith-Addison and Cole of Donnelly, MN; daughter, Cathy (Lorin) Miller-Veronica and Benjamin of Kindred, ND; mother, Veronica Smith of Morris, MN; brothers, Charles and Gwen Smith of Madison, MN; James(Beverly) Smith of Glenwood, MN; brothers-in-law, Paul (Pat) Kalmoe of Phoenix, AZ; Robert (Belinda)Kalmoe of Weatherford, TX; sister-in-law, Alice Edwards of Madison, TN and 8 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and nephew, Randy Kalmoe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Knute Nelson Hospice or to the CaringBridge organization.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
Video Tribute
Funeral Service
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leon Smith, please visit our flower store.