Leroy William Madison, 85, Wilmont, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society in Canton, South Dakota.
A funeral service was Friday, Feb. 11, at St. Kilian Catholic Church in St. Kilian with burial following the service.
Leroy Madison was born on Dec. 7, 1936, to Floyd and Alma (Wieneke) Madison on a small farm northwest of Adrian. He was raised on the farm and attended rural school until the eighth grade. In 1955 he completed his GED. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1957 and served until 1963. He continued working on the farm until 1965 when he married Alverna Beckmann. The couple moved to their own farm a few miles down the road and then to a farm southeast of Kenneth. In 1976 the couple moved to their current farm north of Wilmont.
Leroy was very fond of his horses and was a gifted caretaker of the animals on his farm. He milked cows until he was 70 years old and was an active farmer until his death. Leroy also held various jobs throughout the years including as a truck driver working for Gangestad’s, picking up canned milk from area farmers, and selling and delivering Archer oil.
In the summer of 2021, after a stay in the hospital, Leroy was transferred to the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Canton, South Dakota, where he lived until his death.
Leroy is remembered as a hard worker who loved and cared for his family and his farm. He enjoyed passing on his lessons and stories to any who would listen. He was also fond of welding and attending auctions.
He was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the St. Kilian Holy Name Society.
Leroy was known for his quick wit, his loud laugh, and his unique ability to wiggle his ears, a skill he loved to show off to the delight of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Alverna Madison, of Wilmont; four children, Dennis (Melanie) Madison of Magnolia and their children Jacob and Lucas, Leslie Madison of Rushmore and his children Paige, Blake and Lauren, Allen (Michelle) Madison of Reading and their children Nicole (Tommy Sithad), Nathan (Claire Christie) and Zack, and Lynn (Robert) Somnis of Magnolia and their children Sierra (Addison) Jobe, Adam (Linda Zheng) and Eric; three great-grandchildren; siblings Morris (Brenda) Madison of Aurora, Colorado, Earl (Marilyn) Madison of Adrian, Rita Becker of Pueblo, Colorado, Joyce Faragher and her friend Harold of Worthington, Dianne Beckmann of Wilmont, and Margaret Pick and her friend Gene of Luverne; sisters-in-law Karen Madison of Adrian, and Marie Onken of Reading; and brother-in-law Norman Beckmann of Wilmont.
Leroy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Edward Madison and Gary Madison; sisters Janet Madison, Joan Taylor, and Agnes Beckmann; and brothers-in-law Jim Taylor, Harold Beckmann, Phil Faragher, Dick Becker, Joe Beckmann, Gerald Pick and Myron Onken.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
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