Ronald Richard LeFebvre 1925-2008

LEFEBVRE, LEITZEN, ERICKSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/25/2009 at 22:45:45

Sioux City Journal
21 November 2008

MAPLETON, Iowa -- Ronald R. "Ding" LeFebvre, 83, of rural Mapleton died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at his home.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Mapleton. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Mapleton, with graveside rites conducted by American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 of Mapleton. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Funeral Home, Mapleton.

Ronald Richard "Ding" LeFebvre was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Mapleton, the son of Walter and Ella (Leitzen) LeFebvre. He attended grade school in Mapleton, graduating with the class of 1943. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country during World War II. He then returned to Mapleton, where he lived the remainder of his life.

He married Mary Erickson on July 7, 1947, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Along with his brother, Clifford "Potts," he ran the LeFebvre 66 Gas Station in Mapleton, retiring in 1979. In 1963 he started raising and racing greyhounds. He operated his own kennel at Sodrak Park in North Sioux City for one summer. He was part owner of the current world record holder, Be My Bubba, who also held the title of All American and was the winner of the Iowa Breeder's Classic in 2000.

He was a member of the American Legion, the National Greyhound Association, Iowa Greyhound Association, and a past member of the Mapleton Fire Department. Ding was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary; four sons and three daughters, Linda Bryan of Clovis, N.M., John LeFebvre and Karen of Sioux City, Bill LeFebvre of Mapleton, Gary and Cathy LeFebvre of Mapleton, Becky and Ron Petersen of Mapleton, Karen Pingel of Peterson, Iowa, and Ken and Donna LeFebvre of Mapleton; 13 grandchildren, Jackie Bryan, Beau (JeanAnn) Bryan, Zachary LeFebvre, Chad LeFebvre, Adam (Shannon) LeFebvre, Sean LeFebvre, Jenny (Brian) Scott, Lee Petersen, Lindsey Petersen, Ben (Nadine) Pingel, Luke (Amanda) Pingel, Jamie LeFebvre, and Jason LeFebvre; six stepgrandchildren, John (Candice) Waderich, Mindy (Kevin) Boyle, Susie (Billy) Wabasha, Jill (Damian) Green, Erik Poss, and Corey (Julie) Poss; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jeannette Tierney of Danbury, Iowa.

Ding was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Leonard, Vincent, Bob, Ray, Clifford "Potts" and Dick "EJ;" his sister, Anna Mae; twin siblings, Kathrine and Joseph LeFebvre, who died shortly after birth; and twin great-grandsons Cole and Jade Bryan.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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