LeRoy F. Lunde, 86 of Devils Lake ND passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks ND.
Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, April 27, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral service for LeRoy will be on Friday, April 28, 2023 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Lori Pankratz officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the Tolna American Legion Post #162 and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. LeRoy will be laid to rest in the North Prairie Cemetery, rural Leeds at a later date.
LeRoy Francis, son of Otto and Mabel (Heubschwerlen) Lunde was born on July 24, 1936, in Devils Lake, North Dakota. He grew up in Tolna, ND and was educated at the Tolna Public School. His parents owned and operated as a family business a grocery store and butcher shop in Tolna.
LeRoy entered the United States Army on Dec. 10, 1954, and proudly served his country with Company C, 31st Engineer Battalion and was honorably discharged on Dec. 7, 1956, with the rank of Specialist 3. He continued as a reservist until Dec. 9, 1962.
LeRoy was united in marriage to his precious Delores Bracken on June 16, 1962, at Churchs Ferry. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family through the years.
As a man with many talents, he also held a variety of different jobs through the years. He was a mechanic at Riggin Motors for many years and later worked as a truck driver for Soper Construction. He continued with full time work in maintenance with MetroPlains until his retirement. Rest and relaxation were not in LeRoy’s vocabulary, so he continued on a more part-time basis with maintenance at Calvary Square in Fort Totten and helping Lake Region Corporation gaming. If he could help someone with a project, he was there to do it.
LeRoy also enjoyed a good day of fishing, good conversation and a game of cards. He was quite a cook too and had perfected many of the family favorites. In later years he enjoyed going to BINGO as a time to connect with friends and family.
LeRoy was an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and also enjoyed membership in the Tolna American Legion and the Devils Lake and New Rockford Eagles Lodge.
LeRoy’s greatest joys were his girls, Nancy and Kristi, his precious grandchildren and dear great grandchildren. He loved them all with his whole heart and he treasured any time spent with them. He also had many good friends and beloved relatives who meant the world to him.
LeRoy is survived by his loving family. His daughters Nancy and Tom Watt and Kristi Ystaas and Gary Johnson all of Devils Lake; grandchildren Brandon (Sara) Padilla, Blake Watt (Ashley Rodriquez), Shayna Ystaas (fiancé Michael Haugland), Brooke Ystaas (Cameron O’Brien) and Specialist Trentin Ystaas; great grandchildren Praxtin and Everleigh, Mason, Greyson, Asher and Kiera, Daxxon and Koraline; sister Maryann and George Anas of California; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Harriet Bracken, Leeds ND, Marcia Bracken, Devils Lake, Gordon Bracken, Grafton ND and Curtis and Beverly Bracken, Devils Lake; many nieces, nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Delores on April 9, 2015, siblings Jerry Lunde, Jimmy Lunde, Peter Lunde and Carol (Lunde) Ealy, in-laws Lewie and Christine Bracken.
Casket Bearers will be Tom Watt, Gary Johnson, Trentin Ystaas, Brandon Padilla, Blake Watt, Cameron O’Brien and Daxxon Haugland. Honorary Bearers are LeRoy’s Fellow Eagles Members and members of the Tolna American Legion. Music will be provided by Marla Luehring and Patty Cote.
