Leroy Dewayne Handt

Leroy Handt, 80, of Brooten, passed away Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at St. Cloud Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.

His funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 9, at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, with visitation two hours prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be provided by the New London American Legion Post.  Private interment will be in Grace East Cemetery in Belgrade. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Homes, www.hafh.org.

Leroy Dewayne Handt was born on September 24, 1945, in Belgrade, Minnesota, the son of Harold and Dorothy (Odland) Handt. He grew up near Belgrade and later moved with his family to his mother’s family farm near Brooten. Leroy graduated from Brooten High School in 1963. After high school, he worked at Willmar State Hospital and at Holm Brothers Hardware in Kandiyohi. On October 2, 1965, he was united in marriage to Marlys Peterson at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kandiyohi and they celebrated 60 years of marriage in October. The couple made their home in Willmar, Kandiyohi, and Atwater. In 1967, Leroy was drafted into the U.S. Army and served for two years, spending a year in Vietnam.

In 1973, Leroy and Marlys moved to a farm near his parents’ family farm south of Brooten.  Leroy raised dairy cattle and crops, and he truly loved being out on the tractor or in the combine. In 2009, Leroy and Marlys moved to his parents’ family farm, where he continued farming until the spring of 2025, when his health no longer allowed him to do so.

Leroy was an active member of First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, where he served as an usher, was part of the cemetery committee, and helped with church dinners. He was also a member of the Belgrade VFW Post, the Brooten American Legion Post, and served 12 years on the Belgrade Co-op Board.

In his younger years, Leroy and Marlys enjoyed going dancing together. He also liked deer hunting, attending auctions, caring for his horses, throwing horseshoes, and having coffee with friends in Belgrade.  Most of all, he treasured time with his family, especially trips to the campground and rides on the golf cart with his grandchildren.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Marlys; three children, Erik (Amy) Handt of Melrose, Kyle (Jennifer) Handt of Brooten, and Jenny (Daryl) Danielson of Willmar; and five grandchildren, Trevor, Kendra, Brandon, Sophia, and Benjamin. He is also survived by his siblings, Jim (Pat) Handt, Janice (Tony) Dokken, and Marcia (Roger) Weets; as well as several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Dorothy; a brother, Ronald; his in-laws, Reuben and Emma; and brothers-in law, Vern Dokken and Warren Teeple.

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