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Leon Pick

Lead Summary

Leon Joseph Pick, 78, Rock Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Luverne, died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at the Lyons Care Facility in Rock Rapids.
A funeral Mass was Tuesday, Feb. 28, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial was in the St. Catherine Cemetery in Luverne.
Leon Pick was born to Leonard and Arlene (Fath) Pick on June 4, 1944, in Lismore. He attended St. Anthony’s Grade School and Adrian High School. 
After high school he attended and graduated from Worthington Junior College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Sioux Falls. Leon began his teaching career at Hills-Beaver Creek and taught English and social studies for 31 years. He also started Pick Painting in 1968 and ran that business for 38 years. His son, Dan worked with him for several years.
Leon was an elected leader of his teacher profession for 23 years, including six years as chairman of MEA’s State Negotiation Council and six years as a member of MEA’s Board of Directors. He was named H-BC Teacher of the Year twice. In 1986 he was a state finalist in the Teacher of the Year contest.
Leon was treasurer of the Rock County DFL for six years and also treasurer for the Minnesota Sixth District DFL (26 counties) for six  years. He ran several legislature campaigns in Southwest Minnesota and was a co-coordinator for Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale in the 1970s and 1980s.
Leon was a member and officer of the Luverne Eagles 3403. He was the local secretary and was re-elected state secretary in 2005.
Leon was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Luverne and a member and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Marshall. He and his wife Mary started L&M Housing in 1988 and Leon was a real estate salesperson.
Leon enjoyed being with his wife Mary, watching the Twins, Yankees and Vikings. He liked being with friends at their Lake Benton cabin and traveling, especially to Las Vegas and Hawaii.
Leon is survived by his wife Mary; children Daniel (Diane) Pick of Luverne, Julie (Craig) Becker of Sioux Falls, and Jackie Pick of Sioux Falls;  stepchildren Rob (Holli) Arp of Jackson and Jodi (Jason) Bosch of Luverne; grandchildren  Thomas and Sydney Becker of Sioux Falls;  step-grandchildren  Nicholas and Kayla Arp of Jackson and Cole (Bryan) Bosch of Jefferson, Gracie (Erik) Ode of Brandon, South Dakota, and Luke Bosh of Luverne; one great-stepgrandchild; and a brother, Duane (Jana) Pick of Edgerton.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Arrangements were provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
(0302 F)

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