Leslie H Kessel

Leslie H. Kessel, 84, Bismarck, died August 12, 2015, at Sanford Health, Bismarck. Services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, August 15, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 E Divide Avenue, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Schick officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday, August 14, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service.Burial will be held at 1:30 pm Saturday, August 15, at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Ashley, ND. Leslie was born on March 8, 1931, in Ashley, ND, the son of Gottfried and Emma (Pahl) Kessel. He was raised on the family farm 12 miles east of Ashley, ND. After school, he continued to work on the farm. On July 21, 1973, Leslie married Genevieve Davenport. In 1974, Leslie and Genevieve moved from the family farm to Bismarck, ND, where he went to work for Metro Farm Machinery. In 1976, Leslie went to work for the state of North Dakota where he was a custodian for 18 years. He retired in 1994.Leslie is survived by his brother, Alvin Kessel, Jamestown; his sister, Gladys Kemmet, Wishek, ND; stepson, Fred Mayer, Bismarck; stepdaughter, Brenda Pfeifer, Sioux Falls, SD; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his nephews and niece, Bruce (Marietta) Kemmet, Jerald (Cindy) Kemmet, and Sheila (John) Willoughby.He was preceded in death by his wife, Genevieve; his parents; sister, Ruth; and brother-in-law, Cliff.