Tollef "LeRoy" Wangsness
February 23, 1934 ~ February 12, 2024
Tollef "LeRoy" Wangsness, 89, of Miller, passed away Monday, February 12, 2024, at Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller, surrounded by his family.
Visitation and time of sharing will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2024, at Reck Funeral Home, Miller. Burial will follow at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family.
Tollef LeRoy Wangsness, son of Tollef and Etta (Engelmann) Wangsness was born February 23, 1934, in Miller, South Dakota. He attended Miller for his elementary and high school education and graduated from Miller High School in 1952. He joined the Marine Corps in 1953, where he served in the Marine Corps Marching Band and the Korean War. He left the Marine Corps in 1956.
Following his time in the Marine Corps, LeRoy returned to farming in Miller. On May 19, 1957, he married Miller High School’s homecoming queen of 1956, Ardean Joyce Johnson (daughter of Walter and Alice Johnson). In 1965, Ardean was crowned Mrs. South Dakota. LeRoy and Ardean had three children: Kristi, Tolly, and Todd.
LeRoy loved his music. He was an accomplished piano and guitar player and played those instruments in a semi-professional band that toured the five-state area. LeRoy could sit down at the piano and play for hours from memory. LeRoy was always a hit at family gatherings! Everyone wanted to hear him play his piano and guitar.
He is survived by his daughter, Kristi St. Pierre; son, Todd (Arlene) Wangsness; brother, Orley Wangsness; grandchildren: Mitchell, Ty (Amber), Jordan, Brittany (Shawn), and Samuel; along with eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ardean (1989); son, Tolly (2012); sister, Rosemary (1996); granddaughter, Rachel (1992); father, Tollef; and mother, Etta (Engelmann).
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with LeRoy's arrangements.
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My deepest condolences on your loss. He was a great man to me always sweet and smiling. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all.
My sincere sympathy to the family of LeRoy Wangsness..🙏🙏
So many fond memories of Leroy, Ardean, and all of you, such a fine, gifted, and service-minded family. You have my heartfelt empathy. I regret missing the visitation, but will be heading to the Twin Cities for a family funeral that day.
Love to all,
Karen
So very sorry to hear the news of Leroy's death…our sympathy to his family. Kindly, David & Donna Call
🌹💔🌹
I was searching to see what info I could find on myself from my USMC days, and this obituary came up in the results. My father, Berwin Storer, served with your dad/brother/grandfather/great-grandfather. He played sax, (although didn’t continue after his service). He thought so much of your dad, he named his 1st born after him! Dad died in 2013. My condolences to the family.