Leland Sperr

Leland Sperr, age 83, of Sartell, Minnesota, formerly of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at Quiet Oak Hospice House in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Michael Breach officiating. Organist will be Sara Lee Rinke with special music by Greg Sperr.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 13th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing Service at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Saturday morning one hour prior to service time at the church.

Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Pallbearers will be Leland’s grandchildren: Shaun Sperr, Miki Sperr, Brenden Sperr, Megan Sperr, Tyler Thurston, Logan Sperr, Joshua Sperr and Jett Thurston.

Leland was born to John and Lena (Wille) Sperr on August 17, 1936 at home near Donnelly, MN. He was the 10th of 12 children. Leland was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Leland completed eighth grade and then worked on the family farm full-time.

On November 2, 1963, Leland married Karen Courbat at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman, MN. They celebrated fifty-five years of marriage. Leland raised dairy cattle on their farm until they moved to Dennis Keller’s Dairy Farm near Tintah, MN.

After almost four years on the Keller Farm, Leland and family moved to Dumont to work on Roger Schmidt’s farm, where he spent the rest of his working years doing the farming he loved. In 1986 Leland, Karen and their youngest moved into Wheaton. After thirty-eight years of service at the Schmidt farm Leland retired. In the Fall of 2018, Leland and Karen moved to Sartell, MN to be closer to their children.

Leland loved spending time with family and friends, playing smear and whist, trading sarcastic comments and debates using his notorious humor- as well as boasting about his winnings at the casino playing slots. He also enjoyed his cup of coffee with anyone in town.

Leland is survived by his loving wife Karen of Sartell; his children Leone Nilson of St Cloud, MN; Mark (Tammy) Sperr of Eden Prairie, MN; Lois Sperr of St Cloud, MN; Larry (Cheryl) Sperr of Hanover, MN and Melissa Sperr of St Cloud, MN; grandchildren: Shaun (Miki) Sperr of Eden Prairie, MN; Megan Sperr of Hanover, MN; Tyler Thurston of Brainerd, MN; Logan Sperr of Eden Prairie, MN; Joshua Sperr of Hanover, MN and Jett Thurston of Alexandria, MN; siblings Fred, Edward, Elizabeth, Arland, Gayle and Gloria.

Preceding Leland in death are his parents; son David Sperr; son-in-law Glenn Nilson; grandson Brenden Sperr and siblings: Marjorie Armstrong, Mae Anderson, John, Walter and Albert Sperr.

Memorials can be directed to S.A.V.E.org and NAMI.org in lieu of flowers or gifts.