LeRoy KNUTHS

KNUTHS, ECKART, KOCH, EICHMANN, WILLEY, EGAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/21/2006 at 00:47:37

Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD)
January 17, 2001
BY JARETT C. BIES

Leroy Knuths, 68, was 1992 S.D. businessman of year

Though a successful business owner and community leader, Leroy Knuths saw himself as just an Iowa farm boy. "When he brought the business to Madison, he got involved in everything," said his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Knuths of Madison. "He wanted to create a better community and business climate in the area." Leroy R. Knuths, 68, died of a stroke Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. He was born Dec. 15, 1932, in Rowan, Iowa. He graduated from Rowan High School and received his associate's degree from Waldorf College. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, then received his bachelor's degree in accounting at Drake University. He married Shalmerdean "Shelly" Ann Eckart on June 7, 1957, in Albert Lea, Minn. He worked as a teacher in Iowa for one year, then joined Arthur Andersen & Co. in Minneapolis in 1957. He became a full partner in 1969, and served as an accountant for many years."One of his most successful accounts was with Crystal Sugar," his daughter-in-law aid. "He played a key role with the company and helped them to be one of the most successful farmer-owned co-op businesses in the Midwest." He purchased Rosco Manufacturing in 1980. The company produces asphalt road paving equipment. At the time of Knuths' purchase, the company was facing challenges. "He said the move to Madison in 1983 helped to save the company," his daughter-in-law said. Almost immediately upon joining the Madison community, Knuths took positive action. He was a member of Rotary Club and a board member of the Dakota State University Foundation. "He wanted to keep graduates in the area, and sought to find them work," his daughter-in-law said.

Knuths was named South Dakota Small-Business Person of the Year in 1992, and was a member of many organizations including Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, Trinity Lutheran Church and the Lake Area Improvement Corporation. "He was always thinking of moving the area forward and making things better," his daughter-in-law said.
While living in Minneapolis, he was a member of Minnetonka, Minn., Lutheran Church and served as past treasurer of the Minneapolis United Way. While Knuths was a busy man, he took the time necessary to share his life with his family. Though slowed by a stroke in 1996, he still maintained his presence with a family tradition, opening day of pheasant hunting. "He still stayed involved, and he went out with his sons, sons-in-law and grandsons," his daughter-in-law said. "He lost things to the stroke, but he moved forward. He overcame obstacles, and he taught us how important it was to maintain a positive attitude." In addition to his daughter-in-law, survivors include his wife, Shelly two sons: Dr. Jay of Duluth, Minn., and Jon of Madison two daughters: Sina Koch of Eden Prairie, Minn., and Kara Egan of Minneapolis seven grandchildren and two sisters: Ruth Willey of Riceville, Iowa, and Yvonne Eichmann of Mason City, Iowa.

Services begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison with burial in Graceland Cemetery in Rowan. Visitation will be Thursday afternoon at the Ellsworth Funeral Home in Madison with the family present at 7 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation or Bethel Lutheran Home Foundation.