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Submitted: 4/27/24 • Approved: 5/14/24 • Last Updated: 5/17/24 • R275881-G275881-S3
Leslie "Les" Mehlhaff
January 14, 1949 - June 14, 2022
Leslie “Les” Lee Mehlhaff (73) passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on June 14, 2022.
Les was born in Scotland, SD on January 14th, 1949, to Eugene & Leontine (Weisser) Mehlhaff. Les was baptized in 1949 and confirmed in 1963in Friedens Reformed Church. He grew up and attended a one room country school in Tripp, SD where he learned to speak English as German was the primary language at home on the farm.
Les attended Tripp High School (graduated in 1967) where he played the trombone in the band, sang in the choir, was a skilled pianist and a member of the debate team. Les attended the University of South Dakota where he graduated with a BA in Zoology & Education in 1971 and a master’s degree in education administration in 1977.
Les grew up on the farm, but agriculture wasn’t his first career path. After graduating from USD, he taught high school biology in the Sioux City School district for 10 years. He left the classroom for politics when Senator James Abdnor called. Les worked for the senator his entire 6-year term in the US Senate and then lived in Washington, D.C. as Abdnor’s chief of staff at the Small Business Administration. After a decade in politics and a stint as the state president for the Jaycees, National Vice President & international Vice President, Les moved home to farm on the same farm his great- grandfather homesteaded near Tripp, S.D. Les served over 20 years on the Southeastern Electric’s board of directors and served as an East River board representative. Les proudly sold Pioneer seed corn for over 20 years and was a licensed crop advisor.
Les married Joanne Erickson on June 12, 1971, to this union 4 children were born. Lisa, Mari, Gina and Daniel.
Les remarried Kathy Ferguson in Tripp SD on September 11, 1993. To this union another son was born, Matthew.
Les is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Leontine, Sister in Law Cheryl Swanson-Bosse, Brother in Law Kenneth Ferguson, mother in law, Margaret Ferguson; grandparents, numerous Aunts, Uncles and cousins.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Kathy of Sioux Falls, SD; Children Lisa (Lon) Kopecky of Lincoln, NE, Mari, (Paul) von Fischer of Brookings, SD, Gina Mehlhaff of Sioux Falls, SD, Dan (Deb) Mehlhaff of Mitchell, SD, Matthew (Denise) Ferguson of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren Landon, Lance and Lawson Kopecky, Isaac and Summer von Fischer, Macy, Elly and Myles Mehlhaff, Blake, Evelyn and Emeline Ferguson; brother Lennis (Judy) Mehlhaff, nephews Timothy (Jane) Mehlhaff, Jeff (Becca) Mehlhaff; niece Tiffany (Seth) Horstman & their families, Harlan Ferguson Father in Law; Sisters in law Marcia (Terry) Haaland; Deborah (Lee) Harrison; Sandy (Dave) Kuhns; Brothers in law Thomas (Teresa) and James (Sherrie) Ferguson.
Funeral services will take place at Salem Reformed Church in Menno, SD at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022. Family will be present for visitation on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at Heritage Funeral Home from 4:00- 6:00 p.m.
Below is a link that allows you to watch Les' funeral service.
Contributed on 4/27/24 by 9katz
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Record #: 275881