LeRoy Ekstrom

LeRoy Ekstrom, 97, of Willmar, died Thursday, December 26th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. His funeral will be 11:00 am, Friday, January 3rd at First Covenant Church with burial in Clover Leaf Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.  www.hafh.org  Memorials preferred in lieu in flowers.

LeRoy was born June 23, 1922, in Glenwood, Minnesota.  He attended Starbuck Public Schools where he graduated in 1940.  He was attending Willmar Business College when he began working for Great Northern Railway.  LeRoy was drafted in November of 1942, serving stateside as a MedTech Sergeant in the United States Army during WW II.   He was a member of American Legion Post #167.

Following his discharge, he resumed his career with Great Northern Railway.  After 39 years LeRoy retired from the Twin Cities Region Vice President’s Office.  He was the co-founder of the Twin Cities Region Burlington Northern Veteran’s Association.  LeRoy devoted many hours in organizing the annual get together of the “old goats.”  Following retirement, LeRoy took care of the paperwork and benefits for any retiree or their spouse.

He served on the Advisory Board for Salvation Army for 15 years, having served 11 of those years as its secretary.  Many years LeRoy was a dedicated bell ringer covering the K-Mart entrance at the Kandi Mall.  He was a member of the Senior Citizens, Historical Society and was a donor to the Humane Society. LeRoy was a humble man who served others and the Lord without acknowledgement. 

He was a member of First Covenant Church having served as the head usher for 30 plus years and church secretary for 25 plus years.  Rarely on a Sunday was anyone at church before LeRoy as he prepared for morning worship and Mannaheim’s afternoon service. 

Surviving are several cousins and special friend, Sally McAdams of Willmar.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Olga.

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