Leland A. Engelstad

Funeral service for Leland A. Engelstad, 80, of Biwabik, will be 10am Saturday, December 22, 2012 at Community United in Christ Church in Biwabik with Rev. Rodney Slessor as officiant. Vistitation will be Friday from 5-7pm at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with a Masonic Service at 6:30pm. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church Saturday. Burial with military honors by the Aurora/Hoyt Lakes Color Guard will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik, MN. Leland died Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at his residence in Biwabik. He was born May 14, 1932 in Oslo, MN to Bernard and Pearl (Olbekson) Engelstad. Leland graduated from high school in Warren, Minnesota. Following his schooling, he was drafted to the US Army and served during the Korean Conflict. Following his military service, he moved to Biwabik and worked for Foley Construction. On Oct. 11, 1957 he married Janice Turner in Aurora, MN. He worked for Woodrich Construction and Seppi Brothers prior to working for Erie Mining Company. Leland retired from LTV Steel in 1994 as a maintenance mechanic. He also owned and operated the Biwabik Motel and Biwabik Paint and Drywall for nearly 30 years. He was a member of Community United Church of Christ, the Biwabik Masonic Lodge and the Aurora American Legion. He was a former member of the Aurora Moose Lodge. Survivors include his wife, Janice; children, Debi (Richard "Rick") Schroeder, Kyle (Sue) Engelstad and Kathi (Les) Banks all of Biwabik; eight grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson; brother, Conrad "Bud" Engelstad of Hibbing; sister-in-law, Diane Engelstad of California; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Charles (June), Pete, Russ, Sam (Donna), Delberne (Ardelle) and Mae (John) Grega; grandchildren, Martin Schroeder and Anna Engelstad; sister-in-law, Pat Engelstad.