Leonard Blade, 85

Leonard Carl Blade, 85, died Sunday, April 22, 2012 at Knute Nelson in Alexandria.

Leonard was born July 27, 1926 in Holmes City to Carl and Myrtle (Hovda) Blade, who owned Blade’s Store in Holmes City. Leonard attended Holmes City grade school though the eighth grade and then graduated from Alexandria Central High School in 1943. He worked as a farm hand during and after high school with hopes of someday farming in partnership with Anna Mae’s brother, Howard.

Leonard enlisted into the United States Army in February of 1945. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, primarily in Okinawa as part of the sanitation detachment doing malaria testing. Leonard was honorably discharged in December of 1946 and then began work for Gamble Robinson in Alexandria as a night warehouse foreman.

In 1948 he went to work for Ludke and Co. as a salesman and in 1952 became manager and vice president. Leonard and partners purchased the company in 1972 and managed the business until 1990 when it was sold to Henry’s Food, Inc. Leonard continued to work for Henry’s Foods until his retirement in 2003.

Leonard married Anna Mae Ecklund on June 14, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City. They settled in Alexandria and began raising four children, Thomas, Sandra, Dean and Carol. Leonard and Anna Mae were both longtime members of Bethesda Lutheran Church. Leonard worked hard, spending many hours growing and managing a successful business. In his time away from work, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching baseball and football and driving the farm roads to check on crops.

He is survived by his children, Thomas Blade of Alexandria, Sandra (Dave) Houglum of Yorktown, VA, Dean (Jane) Blade of Alexandria, Carol (Lee Lauderbaugh) Blade of Alexandria; grandchildren, Michael, Katy and Mark Houglum, David (Courtney) Nelson, and Kyle and Kalley Blade; great-grandchildren, Ian and Alayna Nelson; brother, Orlin (LaVelle) Blade of Holmes City; and niece/godchild, Annette Blade of Hawley.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Anna Mae Blade.

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 28 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Reverends Kent Stillson and Paul Trenne officiating and Mark Graf as organist. Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery near Holmes City. Casket bearers were Darrell Moritz, Doug Johnson, David Nelson, Michael Houglum, Mark Houglum and Kyle Blade.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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