1928 – LeRoy Junius Swan – 2019
LeRoy Swan was born on August 2, 1928, on the family farm in Scandia Township, Murray County to Jubel and Elsie Rickgarn Swan. He grew up on the family farm and attended District #110 school. LeRoy was drafted to the United States Army on February 23, 1951and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington; Camp Stewart, Georgia and also Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. LeRoy achieved the rank of corporal and served as a machine gunner and also set the clocks on the machine guns. Following his honorable discharge on February 24, 1953, LeRoy attended a welding school in Fargo, North Dakota. He began his welding career in 1963 at Paper Calmenson & Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While at PaperCal he worked as a spot welder and later moved positions at the plant to working on multiple drills and reading blueprints. During this time he worked on the IDS Tower in Minneapolis. LeRoy moved back to Slayton, Minnesota in 1977 and started Swan’s Welding and Repair, which he owned and operated for 34 years. It was amazing how many things he could fix and repair. He created the Lenten candelabra and the Methodist symbols that are still displayed on the front of the Slayton United Methodist Church. LeRoy enjoyed riding motorcycles and proudly owned a Harley Davison and was a member of the Shetek Cycle Club from Pipestone, Minnesota for several years. He parked cars for the Murray County Fair for approximately 20 years. LeRoy was a member of the American Legion Erwin March Post 64 for over 28 years. He became a resident at the Slayton Manor in 2013 and later moved to Lindenwood Assistant Living. LeRoy passed away on December 4, 2019, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 91. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton.
Survivors include his brother Dale Swan, Sioux Falls, SD, and several nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Harold “Bud” Swan and his wife Marlene Swan Wagley, and sister Irene Kathman and her husband Gerald “Jack”.
Funeral services were held at the Slayton United Methodist Church in Slayton on Monday, December 9, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Ethanie Schmidt officiating. The organist was Janet Voges with special music by Sue Muck. The Pallbearers were Brian Crowley, Larry Byers, Brandon Kathman, Dennis Swan, Chad Mitchell, Leon Swan, Don Swan, and Jim Kathman. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN. Military honors accorded by the Slayton American Legion Post and the Slayton VFW Post. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton was entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com
