Leslie P. Leirmo
Leslie P. Leirmo, 99, of rural Ferryville, Freeman Township, died on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at the Bland Bekkedal Center for Hospice Care in Viroqua.
He was born on Oct. 27, 1920, to Chris and Clara (Aberg) Leirmo.
He attended Lansing Schools. On June 4, 1955, he married June Volden at Freeman Lutheran Church. Leslie and June farmed and raised their children in rural Ferryville. Leslie was very active in the local community and was proud to serve on many boards including the De Soto School Board, Town of Freeman Board of Supervisors, Crawford County Board, Crawford County Electric, Crawford County Highway, Dairyland Power Board, Northern Wisconsin Tobacco Pool Board, the Freeman Church Council and Men’s Group, as well as the Freeman Church Cemetery Board. He was also a proud member of the Sons of Norway and embraced his Norwegian heritage. He loved lutefisk, molsa, herring and Primost. He enjoyed playing cribbage and poker, as well as singing and was a member of the West Prairie Singers. In the wintertime he loved to spend time in the basement cracking thousands of walnuts. Leslie and June enjoyed square dancing, their two trips to Norway and hosting the annual Midsummer Fest at their farm. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Leslie is survived by his five children, Phyllis (Gary) Gokey, Beth (Jeffrey) Wiebusch, Carrie (James) Brudos, Carl (Flo) Leirmo, and Haldis Leirmo; grandchildren; Hans (Noelle) Wiebusch, Lyndsey Brudos, Jerinna (Adebayo) Onafuwa, Tyler Brudos, Anna (Brian) Buder, Bryant Seiler, Dana (Milton) Medina, and Carl Shulka; great-grandchildren, Logan, Skylar, Aurora, Walter, Emily, Chloe and Ella; sisters-in-law; Marylou Townsend and Margaret Frank; sisters; Lillian Hanson, Ruth Lightfoot and Kristie Arneson; and brother-in-law, Orrin Arneson; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife, June; parents; infant daughter, Jan Eloise; sisters, Celia Forde, Alice Swiggum; sister-in-law, JoAnn Volden; brothers-in-law; Eston Townsend, Bob Frank, J. Oliver Lightfoot, Nels Forde, Arthur Swiggum, E. Wayne Hanson; and father and mother-in-law, Theodore and Clara Volden.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m. at the Freeman Lutheran Church with Pastor Lori Kleppe officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Thorson Funeral Home in Viroqua on Friday, Feb. 14; they may also call from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. The family suggests memorials be made to the Freeman Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.thorsonfuneralhome.com.
