Funeral services for LeRoy Laufer, 85, life-long farmer, north of Hettinger, ND will be Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Assembly of God Church in Hettinger. Rev. Peter Derksen will officiate. Private family burial will follow. Visitations will be from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday morning.

LeRoy Simon Laufer went to be with the Lord February 5, 2010 at his home in Hettinger with family at his side after a long fought battle with cancer.

Born October 15, 1924 at the family farm 18 miles north of Hettinger to Frank and Rose (Komenda) Laufer, LeRoy was the oldest of 7 children. He grew up on the family farm and attended Cedar grade school, graduating high school from Saint Mary's in New England, ND. LeRoy had dreams of becoming a physician and started school at NDSU. After one quarter he returned to the family farm because of the war.


October 22, 1946 he married Betty Ann Nelson at Regent, ND. Together, they had 3 daughters and a son.


A Hettinger area farmer his whole life, he was one of the first farmers to grow sunflowers. In addition to working the soil, he also operated a custom harvest crew and hay hauling business for several years. He traveled many states and often reminisced about the great people and wonderful food he had experienced during those travels.


LeRoy never knew a stranger, and was always ready to lend a helping hand. His mind was constantly thinking of ways to "reinvent the wheel" to better whatever "project" he was working on. It wasn¹t enough that a machine worked, he needed to know how it worked.


The grandchildren and great grandchildren were very special to LeRoy and he was proud of their many accomplishments.


LeRoy is survived by his wife and four children: Sandra (Ray) Stegner, Ft. Collins, CO; Connie (Otto) Schwarz, Hettinger, ND; Wayne (Joan) Laufer, Hettinger, ND; and Sharon (Craig) Silkman, Hettinger, ND; 6 siblings: Earl (Liv) Laufer, Hettinger, ND; Elaine (Tom) Ihle, Arvada, CO; Frances (Don) Meyers, Nisland, SD; James R. (Sally) Laufer, Moses Lake, WA; Norman (Donna) Laufer, Mott, ND; Maurice (Margaret) Laufer, Tacoma, WA. He also leaves 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren: Jeremy (DeNae) Stegner, Lydia and Hannah, Sterling, CO; Michelle (Stephen) Kenworthy, Daniel, Paul, Isaac, Abby and Aaron, Davenport, IA; Kevin Stegner, Denver, CO; Cory Schwarz(Candace) Mylo, ND; Becky Schwarz, Boxelder, SD; Chuck Schwarz, Pittsburgh, PA; Josh Schwarz, Hettinger, ND; Shelly Silkman, St. Onge, SD; and Clinton Silkman, Hettinger, ND.


He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister-in-law Wilma and nephew Tim Ihle.