Leroy Wente

Leroy Lawrence Paul Wente, son of Fred and Katie (Swanson) Wente, was born March 17, 1914 in Horton Township in Stevens County, Minnesota, where he grew up and began his schooling at District #20 country school. His family later moved to what is now the family farm in Rendsville Township, where he finished his education. As a young man, in addition to farming with his family, he worked for the Perkin's Farm and Resort on Pomme de Terre Lake. Leroy loved farming and was a very competitive, hard worker. In 1940, he used these attributes to win the Stevens County Corn Husking Contest. On August 27, 1941, he was united in marriage to Virgal Baysinger and to this union three children were born. The couple made their home in Horton Township (the same farm where he was born) across from the District #20 School, where they began farming. They developed many friendships that lasted their entire lives. In March, 1955, the family moved to Perkins Resort and Farm, where they spent the next 17 years farming, before buying the Swanson/Wente farm, (the same farm where he spent part of his formative years) in 1972. Leroy continued to farm with his son, Richard and grandson, Chad, until he was 91 years old. Virgal passed away on January 2, 2004. In 2005, declining health forced Leroy to move to Skyview in Morris and later to the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, where he continued to live until the time of his death. Although he moved to town, Leroy always wanted to get back to the farm.



Leroy enjoyed farming, raising Hereford cattle, pitching horseshoes, he was inducted into the Tri-County Horseshoe League Hall Of Fame, playing ball with his children and grandchildren, playing cards, competing in whatever event was popular or going on at the time and fishing, ice fishing and hunting. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and they with him. His grandchildren viewed Leroy as a "John Wayne" kind of figure and have remarked that he was their HERO.



Leroy died on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, MN, having lived to reach the age of 94 years.



He is survived by two sons: Robert (Kathy) Wente of Faribault and Richard (Linda) Wente of Donnelly; one daughter: Diane (Wally) Kill of Morris; seven grandchildren: Angelo Wente of Edina, Jackie (Velzke) Wente of Faribault, Moe (Patti) Wente of Munster, IN, Tina Malkavage of Faribault, Brenda Wente of Duluth, Chad (Jackie) Wente of Donnelly, Tara (Kurtis) Pool of St. Michael and Matthew Kill of West Fargo; 12 great-grandchildren: Jordan Wente, Lindsey Wente, Nick, Megan and Katie Kikalos, Jackson Wente-Hanson, Robert W. Wente, Sebastian Malkavage, Cade and Cole Wente, Landon Pool and Darien Pool; one sister: Pauline Hobron of Sparks, NV; sisters-in-law: Rose Wente of New Jersey, Darline Wente of Morris and Norma Wente of Morris; Virgals Brother: Dale (Pat) Baysinger of St. Michael; Virgals sister: Betty Lou (Al) Sieben of Hastings and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife: great-grandson: Joey Wente his parents; sisters: Clara Milz, Angeline Wente and Josephine Wente and brothers: Luverne, Charles and Paulus Wente.



Pallbearers for the service are Leroy's grandchildren: Angelo Wente, Moe Wente, Tina Malkavage, Brenda Wente, Chad Wente, Tara Pool and Matthew Kill. Rita Lambert will serve as organist for the service with Shirley Schliep serving as soloist. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.