LeRoy Schlotte

LeRoy Engel Schlotte, 78, went to be with his Lord on October 20, 2020 A private funeral service will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday October 24, 2020 and will be livestreamed on Fiksdal Funeral Service Facebook page. Military burial will be at the Webster Cemetery. Public walk through visitation will be Friday 5-7 P.M. at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. In all things, LeRoy was a man of the land. As a farmer, few things were more satisfying than driving the tractor as oldies music played on the radio. Up until shortly before his death, LeRoy could be seen behind the wheel of a semi, hauling soybeans. Fishing was another passion. Something he particularly enjoyed was his annual fishing retreat with friends. But he found the most joy in spending time with Bev, his wife of 53 years, and his four children and their families. Born on June 17, 1942 in Webster, S.D., LeRoy was the second of four children of Carl and Gertrude (Nelson) Schlotte. He was baptized at American Lutheran Church and graduated from Webster Public Schools. From 1962 to 1966 he served his country in the National Guard, where he was a cook and a sharpshooter. When he returned home, LeRoy joined his family on the farm, which over the years has provided an abundance of wheat, barley and other crops, as well as hogs, chickens, cattle and dairy cows. His life would forever change when in 1964 he took a break from the farm and went roller skating in Pierpont, S.D. There, he met the love of his life, Beverly Strand. After they wed on Aug. 26, 1967, the couple lived in a trailer house on the Schlotte farm until LeRoy’s father passed away. LeRoy and Beverly moved into the main house, which would become the family home for their four children, Lisa, Wayne, Kellie and Sara. Growing up, the children were folded into the workings of the farm. The kids remember driving before they were 10. LeRoy would start the old pickup - the kids weren’t tall enough to reach the pedals - and open the gates so they could drive through without stopping to bring the dairy cows home for milking. There was also a time when LeRoy cornered a belligerent bull in an effort to load him onto a trailer. As a precaution, he handed his teenage daughter a pistol with instructions to shoot the bull if it charged him. Happily for LeRoy and the bull (and his teenage daughter), the pistol wasn’t required. His strong work ethic was passed down to all of his children, but LeRoy eased up on his schedule as his children married and had kids of their own. LeRoy absolutely loved spending time with grandkids. He took them fishing, four-wheeling, sledding, and showed them how to play a mean game of checkers. They also learned never to trust a phone call from him on April Fool’s Day. His children’s spouses were equally beloved. He and Bev went to church one Sunday, and on the way home he said, ‘I forgot to say prayers for the spouses.’ He stopped the car right there and prayed for them.” LeRoy loved spending time with his friends, telling stories, playing cards, woodworking and dancing. He also volunteered with the American Legion Post No. 40 as a member of the Honor Guard, served on the Wallace Elevator Board and as Highland Township Supervisor. Of all his traits, he was praised for his steadfastness. “You never doubted that he was in your corner.” Always the romantic, he celebrated their anniversary this past August with 53 roses to his sweetheart. LeRoy is survived by his wife, Beverly, his children, Lisa (Larry) Brickey of Savage, MN; Wayne (Kristi) Schlotte of Webster, SD; Kellie (Dean) Townsend of Pierpont, SD; and Sara (Tim) Strande of Mankato, MN. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren: Kevin and Trevor Brickey, Eryn and Ethan Schlotte, Cassandra and Travis Townsend and Drew and Dylan Strande. Two sisters, Carol (Gene) Derdall, Dorothy (Larry) Dorwart of Kimball, SD, sister-in-law Charlene Schlotte, brother-in-law Gary (Bonnie) Strand and eleven nieces and nephews survive him as well. Preceding him in death were his parents and brother, David.