Small Town News

LeRoy A. Heth

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March 26, 1931 - September 4, 2010

Funeral services for LeRoy A. Heth, 79, of Landa, North Dakota were held on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westhope. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Barbara Haugerud. Special music was preformed by Marsha DesLauriers with Ruby Berentson as organist. Pall bearers were Kendall Kirk, Steven Beckedahl, Craig George, Garrett Grover, Gary Grover, Darren Foss, Scott Cartwright and Jeff Engh. Military rites were provided by the Orlan Cool VFW of Westhope, the Sherwood American Legion and the North Dakota National Guard. Burial was at the Westhope Cemetery.

LeRoy Alvin Heth was born on March 26, 1931 to Alfred and Edna (Jans) Heth at Skogmo, Sheridan County, North Dakota. They lived near Drake where LeRoy attended grade school in a country school. The family moved to Northgate, ND where LeRoy attended the first two years of high school. He attended his junior and senior years in Bowbells where he graduated in 1949. After graduating he worked for Great Northern Railroad and custom combiners before being drafted in January, 1952. He volunteered for the United States Marine Corps and served as a Radio Operator on the front lines in Korea from October 1952 to November 1953. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in January 1954. LeRoy was married to Marlene Himle on June 27, 1954 in Westhope, North Dakota. The couple made their home in various places in western North Dakota while LeRoy worked in the oil field. They purchased a gas station on the edge of Flaxton in September, 1955. LeRoy served as mayor of Flaxton for eight years. In September of 1967 the family moved to Marlene's grandparent's farm near Westhope and began a farming business. He also worked for Ward Williston Company of West-hope over the years. After retiring from farming in 1988, the couple moved to a farm near Mouse River Park in Renville County. In 1994, LeRoy and Marlene started their 'official' retirement, traveling to Texas and then Quartsite, Arizona for the winters and spending their summers back in North Dakota until LeRoy's health prohibited them from going in the winter of 2009-2010. LeRoy was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2004. In the spring of 2005 LeRoy and Marlene purchased a house in Landa where they have resided since.

LeRoy was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Westhope. He served on the church council and building committee when the 'new' church was being built. He was a member of Orlan Cool Veterans of Foreign Wars of Westhope and the American Legion post in Sherwood. LeRoy served on the Wayne Township board for many years and also on the Westhope Rural Fire District Board of Directors.

LeRoy passed away in Landa on Saturday morning, September 4, 2010 after a hard fight with cancer.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marlene; sons Stanley (Lavonne) of Paola, KS, Steven (Ginny) of Westhope, and Roger (Valerie) of rural Antler; daughter, Robin (Dwight) Tolstad of Westhope; grandchildren Kristie (Robert) Chavez of Spring Hill, KS, Christopher (Tiffany) Heth of Fargo, James (Holly) Heth of Hazen, ND, Aaron (Samantha) Heth of West Fargo, Devin (Kate Wolsky) Tolstad of rural Landa, Preston (Kristin) Tolstad of Minot, Tina Heth of Ft. Huachuca, AZ, Krystal Heth, Jonathan Heth, Eric Heth and Leah Heth all of rural Antler; great grandsons Carson Heth and Hunter Tolstad; great granddaughter Katelyn Heth; sisters-in-law Harriet Heth, Jeri Himle, Jean (Ronald) Aalund, Jeanette (Gary) Larson, Marjorie (Willard) Steinhaus, Shirley (Rodney) Conway; brothers-in-law Don (Judy) Himle, Gordon "Buzzy" Himle; special nephews Jeff Aalund and Jerome Heth; honorary granddaughter Kelsey DesLauriers; one uncle Otto Heath; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Jerry Heth, one granddaughter, Jenna Tolstad and one brother-in-law Robert Himle.

LeRoy was a good and honest man who will be missed by all who shared his life!

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Westhope. Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome .net.



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© 2011 Mouse River Journal Towner, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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