LeRoy Neuleib

LeRoy Neuleib (81) of Rothsay, MN passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Sunday, May 28, 2017.

LeRoy, the oldest son of Herman and Edna (Paler) Neuleib, was born on November 20, 1935, in Maplewood Township near Anderson Lake. He grew up in Maplewood, Erhards Grove, and Trondhjem townships and attended country school districts #145, #17, and #89.

He was united in marriage to Luella Johnson from Pelican Township at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids on August 24, 1963. They lived on his parents’ farm in Trondhjem township until 1971 when they moved to Rothsay. They have three children.

LeRoy was an intelligent and hard-working man. Although his formal education ended with the eighth grade his natural talents and skills served him well. He and his brother took over the family farm and along with farming he worked at Lindberg Motors in Rothsay in the mid-to-late 1950s as their tractor mechanic. In the early 1960s, Lindberg Motors decided to sell the tractor repair side of their business. LeRoy and Virgil Western wanted to establish Western Implement in Rothsay and purchased the business with the stipulation that LeRoy was to be the tractor mechanic for them. LeRoy left Lindberg Motors and joined Western Implement. He continued to work there until he and his brother, Charles, bought the Alf Peterson building in Rothsay and opened their own business, Neuleib Repair, in 1966. They repaired cars, tractors, farm equipment, radiators, and small engines. In 1976, he acquired more land by purchasing the Oscar Anderson farm and moved his family back to Trondhjem Township. He retired from farming in 2000. Neuleib Repair remained in operation until 2012 when LeRoy’s health began to decline. The building was sold in 2014.

LeRoy learned to weld at a young age on his parents’ farm because their farm equipment continually broke down. They bought a welder and made the repairs themselves. LeRoy’s welding skills and mechanical abilities became well known and he was frequently asked by area farmers to recreate broken or missing parts or to modify the design of equipment to work better or serve a different purpose. He designed and built front and rear mounted rotary snowplows for the city of Rothsay and for personal use. He designed and built the inner workings of the Gorton/Velo/Trosvik (GVT) Feed Mill near Pelican Rapids, and conveyor systems for Productive Alternatives in Fergus Falls and Trosvik, Inc. near Rothsay. He also converted an Allis-Chalmers tractor into a reverse tractor/loader for area farmer, Arvid Haugrud. The things he built remain in operation to this day as a result of his precision, knowledge of steel, and his ability to make things that last.

LeRoy was an avid hunter and fisherman for most of his life. His passion for ice fishing prompted him to design and make spears, ice tongs, and the Neuleib Ice Saw for which he is most known. His entirely handmade Ice Saw was sold all around the United States from 1982 to 2012 and is still a sought-after item at auctions and antique shops.

He is survived by his wife, Luella Neuleib of Rothsay, MN; children, LeAnn Neuleib and her special friend Corey Schultz of Rothsay, Laurie Dow (Lee) of Sabin, MN and their children, Shani and her fiancé Mark Fuder and their son Jackson Lawrence Fuder, Jamie, Jackie, Karlee, Zane, and Brooklyn, Landon Neuleib (Alli) of Rothsay and their son William LeRoy; siblings, Anna Dow of Rochert, MN, Margaret Cichy Stogsdill (Jesse) of Newport, OR, Lillian Ponder, Quitman, TX, Charles (Nita) of Rothsay, and Otto (Kathy) of Erhard, MN and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Edna Neuleib; father and mother–in-law Clarence and Lenora Johnson; brothers-in-law Ermin Cichy and Ernest Dow; and sister-in-law Susan (Rocholl) Neuleib (Otto).

Visitation: 12-1 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2017 at the Olson Funeral Home
Service: 1 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2017, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Chaplain Caleb Larson
Interment: Ringsaker Cemetery in Pelican Rapids following a light lunch

Condolences may be sent to www.OlsonFuneralHome.com