DeRoos, Leslie, Sr. (1938-2011)
DEROOS, BROWNIE, PETERSON, CLELAND, LAUNDERVILLE, COLLAR, MOODY, HAM, HORN
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/19/2011 at 18:40:34
Leslie DeRoos, Sr.
November 14, 1938 - January 10, 2011Monday, January 17, 2011
Leslie "Les" DeRoos Sr., age 72, of Alta, passed away on Monday, January 10, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center of Sioux City.
Leslie Thomas DeRoos, Sr., was born November 14, 1938, in Yankton, South Dakota, the son of Thomas and Inga (Peterson) Brownie. In 1947, Les was adopted by Nick DeRoos. Growing up, Les attended grade school in Yankton and Elk Point and graduated from Vermillion High School in 1957.
Following his high school graduation, Les joined the South Dakota National Guard and attended Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Les served his country as well as the states of South Dakota and Iowa honorably for over thirty-one years and retired at the rank of Sergeant First Class in 1993. He spent his time in the National Guard in Communications and Food Service. Most recently, he served as Battalion Mess Steward.
On Sept. 3, 1959, Les was united in marriage to Carolyn Lee Cleland at the United Methodist Church in Vermillion, South Dakota. They were blessed with six children.
Les had a variety of occupations during his days. He served the city of Alta in the light and water department for nine years, the fire department for nine years and the police department for several years. Les most recently worked for the Storm Lake Post Office, retiring in 2002. Perhaps Les will be remembered most as co-owner and operator of Les & Carolyn's restaurant and catering business which they operated from 1971 to 2011.
In 1979, while attending the Alta United Methodist Church, by the grace of God, Les came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ which transformed the rest of his life. At the time of his death, Les was a member of Summit Evangelical Free Church of Alta.
Les enjoyed bowling, fishing, gardening, canning, cooking and since 1993, participating in the Annual DeRoos Men's Campout with his sons, son-in-law, nephew, and grandsons (10). As much as Les loved these activities, he enjoyed them more when he was passing on his knowledge and experiences to the younger generations of his family. Les was admired for his unique sense of humor and his ability to identify with the "underdog" which endeared him to many.
Those left to cherish their memories of him include his wife of fifty-one years, Carolyn; his six children: Les (Catherine) DeRoos, Jr., of Alta, Lee (Gina) DeRoos, of Sioux City, Nick (Carla) DeRoos, of Sioux City, Doug (Mary) DeRoos, of Sioux City, Louie (Sherry) DeRoos, of Aurelia, and Lynann (Raegan) Launderville, of Alta; his mother, Inga (Peterson) Collar, of Newell; his two brothers: Ben (Norma) DeRoos, of Kennewick, Washington, and Tom (Karen) DeRoos, of Dakota City, Nebraska; his two half brothers: Mark (Chris) Brownie, of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, and Greg Brownie, of Ashville, North Carolina; his two half sisters: Tony Moody, of Colfax, Wisconsin, and Laurell (Wayne) Ham, of Randleman, North Carolina; his half sister-in-law, Barb Horn; nineteen grandchildren; one great grandchild expected in July; and extended family and friends.
Les was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Brownie; his adopted father, Nick DeRoos; his step-father, Virgil Collar; and his half brother, Tam Brownie.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Summit Evangelical Free Church of Alta with the Rev. Douglas M. Corlew officiating. Burial will be at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery of Menno, South Dakota, with full military honors conducted by the VFW Post #6172 of Alta. The Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Alta is in charge of the arrangements. A memorial fund has been established in Les's name.
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