LeRoy Persson

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Obituary

LeRoy Persson, 84, of Mitchell, SD, died peacefully Friday, September 19, 2025, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell.  Funeral services will be 10:30 AM on Wednesday, September 24, at New Home Lutheran Church in Mitchell.  Burial will be in Ebenezer Cemetery, Rural Corsica.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service.

J. LeRoy Persson was born June 12, 1941, in Sioux Falls, SD, as the oldest child to John E. and Florence E. (Johnson) Persson. He grew up in Beresford and Stickney. LeRoy began his elementary school years in Beresford, SD, a community that lost their school to a fire, therefore, students attended classes in church basements. After several years, the family moved to a farm near Stickney, SD, attending a rural school with only 14 students in first grade through eighth grade. He graduated from Stickney High School in 1959. LeRoy attended Southern State Teachers College for undergraduate studies, graduating in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education.

He married the love of his life, Mary M. Reinesch, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Armour, SD. Together, they raised one son, Darwyn. He was “Grandpa LeRoy” to two grandchildren, the other loves of his life.

LeRoy began his teaching and coaching career at Fedora High School. He then moved to Mitchell, SD, where he taught and coached at Mitchell Junior High/Middle School, until his retirement after 37 years. He received his master’s degree from SDSU and did postgraduate work.

LeRoy’s hobbies were attending auction sales, collecting old hand tools, Redwing Crocks, and watching the Minnesota Vikings. In his younger years, he followed the baseball success of Ted Williams and the Boston Red Sox. LeRoy loved sharing his many fond memories of life on the farm with his grandkids and discussing family genealogy. Family was the most important thing to him; the farm was his favorite place in the whole world, and he spent as much time there as possible. The grandkids also came to learn about how much of a practical joker he was through the years. He loved sharing stories of pranks he and his friends used to play. He was a kind and giving man and will be missed dearly by all of his family, and all the many friends he gained over the years.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of over 63 years, Mary; one son, Darwyn (Jan) Persson of Alexandria, SD; two grandchildren: Alyssa (Matt Larsen) Persson, Beverly, MA, and Trey (Mario) Persson-Correa, Washington DC; his siblings: Lloyd (Sue) Persson, Sioux Falls, Delayne (Vicki) Persson, Corsica, and Vaye Jean (Rich Bare) Persson, Sioux Falls; brothers and sisters-in-law: Dick and Betty Vant Hul, Don and Leanne Bradwisch, and Sherri Reinesch; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Bruce; parents-in-law, Albert and Margaret Reinesch; brothers and sister-in-law: Jim and Gladys Reinesch and Kenneth Reinesch.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to LifeQuest or New Home Lutheran Church, both located in Mitchell, SD.

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