Leonard Drake

Memorial services for Leonard Drake of Alexandria, formerly of Starbuck, MN will be Friday, November 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Indherred Lutheran Church, rural Starbuck. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Leonard Glen Drake, son of Lloyd and Minnie (Holen) Drake, was born July 5, 1930 in Mentor, Minnesota.  Leonard grew up and attended school in Hallock, Minnesota, graduating in 1948.  After graduation, Leonard attended Bemidji State College for two years, before enlisting in the United States Airforce.  While in the Airforce, he worked as a weather forecaster and was stationed in North Africa.  After an honorable discharge, Leonard returned to Bemidji State College, graduating with a B.A. Degree in teaching in 1960.  Following his schooling, he began teaching in Clearbrook, MN, and later taught for one year in Illinois, before settling in Bloomington, MN where he taught high school math, physics and chemistry.  In 1963, Leonard received a Master’s Degree in teaching from the University of Colorado.  He was united in marriage to Alice Ranum on June 17, 1967 at Indherred Lutheran Church near Starbuck, MN.  The couple made their home in Bloomington, MN where they both taught for many years.  Following their retirement, Leonard and Alice moved to Starbuck, Minnesota.  They also spent 20 winters in Sun City, AZ.  In 2017, they moved to Grand Arbor in Alexandria, Minnesota, where he continued to live until the time of his death.

Leonard was a member of Indherred Lutheran Church.  He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, silversmithing and most of all being “tortured” by his many nieces and nephews.

Leonard died on Sunday, November 3, 2019 at Alomere Health in Alexandria, Minnesota.  He was 89 years old.

He is survived by his wife: Alice Drake of Alexandria; sisters-in-law: Carol Drake of St. Louis Park and Julie Mason of Hopkins; brother-in-law: John (Joyce) Ranum of Great Falls, MT and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Roy, Jack and Ray Drake; sisters: Luella Streed, Dorothy Gustafson and Myrtle Fisher and brothers-in-law: Henry Streed, Delbert Gustafson, Marlin Fisher, Harold, Ernest, Paul, Ralph and David Ranum.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Indherred Lutheran Church or charity of your choice.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.