Richard Eugene Leenderts, 91, Hills, died Monday, July 27, 2020, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A funeral service was Friday, July 30, at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Private burial for family followed at the Eastside Cemetery in Steen.
Richard Leenderts was born on May 27, 1929, to Abel and Rakie (Mulder) Leenderts on a farm near Ellsworth. He grew up near Steen and attended school at #2 Lyon County District Country School.
On Jan. 19, 1951, Richard married Hendrene Beyenhof on her father’s farm in Iowa. They moved to a small house on Alvin Fink’s farm, where Richard worked as a hired hand. In October of 1951 Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was a member of the 3rd Armor Division. He had his basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then served in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1953.
After his discharge the couple lived in Hills. Richard bought his father-in-law’s milk route in 1951 and delivered milk and cream until he sold the business in 1960 when he began working at the Hills elevator. He left the elevator in October 1969 to begin working at IBP in Luverne. He was employed there until 1983 when he began working for the Rock County Co-op. He retired in 1995.
In retirement Richard took a part-time job driving the preschool van for the Hills-Beaver Creek School for the next 14 years. He entered the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in June of 2020.
Richard enjoyed driving his golf cart around Hills with his dog, Jack. He looked forward to daily meetings with the guys at Orv’s station for coffee. He especially enjoyed road trips with his wife, Drene. Richard is survived by four children, Coni (Wally) Hagedorn of Venice, Florida, Darrell (Melanie) Leenderts of Harrisburg, South Dakota, Arlen (Lois) Leenderts of Hills, and Brenda (Scott) Smith of Prior Lake; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters Reva Hoff and Henrietta Hughes; and brothers Leonard (Delores) Leenderts and Harold (Torborg) Leenderts.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hendrene, of 61 years; his parents; and a brother, Jim.
Arrangements were provided by Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, jurrensfuneralhome.com.
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