Leonard “Shorty” Leenderts, 88, Hills, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
A funeral service was Tuesday, Jan. 10, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Memory Gardens cemetery in Luverne.
Leonard Leenderts was born April 5, 1934, at the family farm near Ellsworth, Minnesota, the son of Abel and Rakie (Mulder) Leenderts. He was raised in the Steen area and attended country school District 61 through eighth grade.
On Dec. 30, 1956, he married Lois Reemts while home on leave from the U.S. Army. They were then stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. In 1958 he was honorably discharged and returned to the area after the sudden death of his father.
During their marriage, they were blessed with four children, Alan, Lori, Kristie and David. On April 8, 2002, Shorty’s wife of 45 years died suddenly.
Shorty married Delores (Timmer) VandeKamp on Sept. 3, 2005.
He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne and served on various church boards. He was a member of the Hills Lions Club, Hills Community Club, Rock County Farm Bureau and a 4-H leader/supporter for many years. He served as Martin Township treasurer for 41 years. He was an avid bowler in his younger years, active in the Men’s League and Couples League. He enjoyed woodworking, buying and selling cattle at the sale barn and most of all watching his children and grandchildren's activities. Shorty continued to be active in the farming operation and never retired.
Shorty is survived by his wife, Delores Leenderts of Hills; four children, Alan (Bonnie) Leenderts of Hills, Lori (Tor) Boen of Luverne, Kristie (Pete) Jessen of Jasper, and David (Dawn) Leenderts of Hills; three stepchildren, Gregory (Denise) VandeKamp of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Arlyn (Patti) VandeKamp of Hardwick, and Pam Tieszen of Luverne; 12 grandchildren, Aric, Tracee, Michael, Jessica, Daniel, Timothy, Ashley, Matthew, Dawson, Donavon, Danette and Drew; five stepgrandchildren, Abby, Dezarae, Drew, Darius, Dylan; 38 great-grandchildren; a brother, Harold (Torborg) Leenderts of Oslo, Norway; a sister, Henrietta Hughes of Portsmouth, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lois Leenderts; a sister, Reva Hoff; and two brothers, Richard and James Leenderts.
Arrangements were provided by Jurrens Funeral Home, jurrensfuneralhome.com.
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