LeRoy Junius Swan
LeRoy Swan Obituary
In Loving Memory of
LeRoy Junius Swan
LeRoy Swan was born 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 welding school in Fargo, North Dakota. He began his welding career in 1963 at Paper Calmenson & Company in Minneapolis. 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 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 for several years. He parked cars for the Murray County Fair for approximately twenty 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, SD at the age of 91. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton.
Survivors include his brother, Dale Swan of Sioux Falls, SD, and several nieces and nephews and their families. He is 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
Slayton United Methodist Church in Slayton on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Ethanie Schmidt officiating. The organist is Janet Voges with special music by Sue Muck. The Pallbearers are 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.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LeRoy Junius Swan, please visit our floral store.
