LeRoy Molander, 90

LeRoy John Molander, 90, Lowry, died December 2, 2011 at Glacial Ridge Hospital.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 7 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 5 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and for one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Burial will in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

LeRoy was born June 23 1921 in Benwade Township of Pope County, the son of John and Charlotte (Benson) Molander. He grew up on the family farm in the Lowry area, attending the rural country school. He was baptized and confirmed at Norunga Lutheran Church.

LeRoy worked with his father on the family farm until he started Molander Implement in Lowry in 1952. On March 12 1960 LeRoy was united in marriage to R’Dell Kalina at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry.

LeRoy spent many years running the implement in Lowry. In 1965 he relocated the family to Tacoma, Washington and spent a year managing the International Implement in Puyallup Washington. LeRoy missed Minnesota and moved back in 1966 and began working for Tanks in Villard. He worked there until 1970 when he went to work for John Lenz and Sons in Alexandria as an outside sales representative covering North Dakota selling grain handling equipment. In 1980 he started his own company, Independent Drying Systems in Lowry, and ran the company until his retirement in 2005.

LeRoy enjoyed breeding, raising and showing American quarter horses. He showed his horses at many AQHA futurities. He was also active in the Lowry Lions Club, was a member of the Starbuck Hospital Board, a Boy Scout leader, and Lowry citizen of the year in 1991. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lowry.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, R’Dell and their two sons and five grandchildren, Steven and Kristine, daughters, Katelyn and Anna of Rogers, and Jeff and LaDona, children, Krislyn, Ryan and Reed of Urbandale, Iowa. He is also survived by sisters, Irene Magnuson, Gladys Hawkinson, Dorothy Nordgren, Joann Opheim; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Myrtle MacIver; and brother, Wallace.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the funeral arrangements. An online guestbook can be signed at www.pedersenfh.com.

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