Leonard Lindsley
Leonard I. Lindsley, 93, of Alexander, N.D., passed away, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at the CHI St. Alexius Health in Williston, N.D.
Leonard Ivan “Babe” Lindsley was born on the farm in Antelope Creek Township, McKenzie County, N.D., to H. S. and Dora Neer Lindsley on April 27, 1924. He attended the Antelope Creek School for 8 years and Alexander High School for 1½ years.
All he ever wanted to do was farm! He also did carpentry at home and for neighbors. Grain hauling earned the money to buy his first land when he was 20, land he still owns. He moved with the family when a farm was purchased north of Cartwright in 1943.
In the winter of 1949-1950, he built a little house there to which he brought his bride, Evelyn Stevenson Cook, on July 19, 1950.
They bought her family farm east of Alexander and moved there in 1958. Together they farmed and raised cattle, pigs, sheep, and various poultry. One of the saddest days of his life was the day he sold his cattle in 1988. He put in, took off and binned his last crop in 2008 at the age of 84.
In the early ’80s, Leonard and Evelyn were part of a card playing group that called themselves the “Kings and Queens.” There are many wonderful memories of those weekly sessions through the winters.
Tractors were a lifelong passion and he restored over a dozen that were often seen on Old Settlers Day. He crafted scale models of old machinery and many buildings from his early days, hand crafting it all down to the cedar shingles.
Surviving Leonard are his wife of 67 years, Evelyn; nieces Frances (Kelly) Olson and Ina (Jim) Patterson; nephews, Leonard (Karole) Walla and Larry (Sue) Walla; a number of cousins, including Clarence (Clara) Neer and Doretta (Emmett) Taylor, locally; special friends, Tim and Lana Bonnet and Brenda Bonnet and “Queens” Joyce Fjelstad, Eunice Olson and Mary Sims.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Floyd and Earl “Pat” (Helen); two sisters, Alice “Sister” and Myrtle (Bjarne) Walla; and two nephews, Maro Lindsley and Lynn Dee Walla.
His funeral service was held at 1p.m., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, at Faith United Methodist Church in Williston, N.D. Pastor Ross Reinhiller officiated. Interment was in the Alexander Union Cemetery, Alexander, N.D.
Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com