Marion LeRoy Friestad, 97, of Leeds, AL went home to be with the Lord on July 25th, 2021. Lee was born in Laverne, Iowa on April 1st, 1924, the first son following 5 daughters, to Norwegian immigrants, Hannah and John Friestad. Four more sons were to join the family. After the death of his father, the family moved to Illinois, where Lee grew up and worked on farms during his teen years. Leaving the farm life, he went to work at Rockford Screw Products, Rockford IL, in 1942. He answered his country’s call in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy serving on the battleship USS Indiana as an electrician EM-2/C from 1943-1946. Following the war, he attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, where he met Norma Marken and graduated in 1948. While at LBI, he served as intern at two churches and worked at the Lutheran Deaconess Hospital as an orderly in surgery. Norma and Lee married on August 8th, 1948, and moved to Canton, S.D. for Lee to attend Augustana Academy to complete high school and begin college. They moved to Ohio in 1950, and in 1951 they returned to the Rockford area and then Stillman Valley, IL, where he worked again for Rockford Products in Personnel until retirement in 1986. Lee always promised Norma they would relocate back to Ohio upon retirement, and they moved to Loudonville, OH in 1990. Lee filled his days working as a handyman in the community. In 2014 they moved to Leeds, AL to be closer to children.
Lee’s life was one of faith and serving the Lord in his daily life and every church they attended. His wish had been to be a minister, but unable to fill that role, he taught Sunday School, did counseling, served on committees, and was involved in many church projects, including building stage sets and mission trips. Lee enjoyed caring for his houses and yards, mowing his grass until he was 94. Norma and Lee had many driving trips around the country through the years, visiting family and friends. He was proud to have been able to make the Honor Flight to the WW II Museum in Washington, DC.
Lee is survived by his wife, Norma; their four children, Angie (Ferril) Davis from Tucson, AZ; Gwen Deierhoi, Birmingham, AL; Gary (Kathy) Friestad, Smyrna, GA; and Dale Friestad, Washington, DC; his 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, with two more expected this fall; two brothers, Russell Friestad, Indio, CA, and Edwin Friestad, DeKalb, IL, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather John Anderson, five sisters, two brothers and son-in-law, Mark Deierhoi.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Leeds Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Veterans Cemetery in Montevallo, AL. Memorials can be made to Leeds Methodist Church, Leeds, AL, Zion Lutheran Church, 222 E. Main St. Loudonville, OH 44842, or the WW II Museum, Washington DC.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kilgroefuneralhome.com for the Friestad family.
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