LeRoy (Roy) V. Aichele

LeRoy Vernon Aichele, 86, of Steele, passed away Friday, March 22, at Prospera Sunset Care Center, Mandan.

Services will be Tuesday, March 26, at 11 a.m. at Steele United Methodist Church, with Rev. Marvin Wynstryg and Rev. Bruce Adams officiating.

Graveside services will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, at 3 p.m.

Visitation will be Monday, March 25, from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., at Steele United Methodist Church.

LeRoy was born to Fred and Tillie (Auch) Aichele on April 12, 1932, in rural Tuttle. He was raised with his four brothers and two sisters. In 1941, the family moved to a farm south of Driscoll. He attended country school through eighth grade and worked on the family farm. He entered the military in 1952 and served in the U.S. Army as a Corporal on the front lines during the Korean War.

After his discharge in 1954, he returned to the family farm. He married the love of his life JoEllen Adams on May 31, 1959. They were happily married for nearly 60 years. Together they had three children: Gary, Timothy, and Cindy.

He managed his uncle’s farm near Robinson from 1959 until 1964 when they purchased their farm south of Steele where he farmed and ranched until his retirement. His hobby was also his job - farming and ranching. He remained on the farm until Parkinson’s disease required a higher level of care, admitting him into Prospera Sunset Care Center, in January of 2019.

Roy was very active in the community. He was an active member of Steele United Methodist Church and served on the Steele Farmers Elevator board and the Manning Township Board. He was a member of the American Legion in Dawson and Kidder County Farm Bureau.

LeRoy is survived by his wife, JoEllen; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Geri, Steele, and Timothy and Carol, Beulah; one daughter, Cindy Ekberg, Breckenridge, MN; 11 grandchildren, Matthew (Megan) Aichele, Jennifer Aichele (fiancé Kylor Johnston), Daniel (Bethany) Aichele, Janolyn Aichele, Calvin Aichele, Jeremy Ekberg, Kayla Ekberg, Hannah (Abe) Lynch, Lanae Ekberg, Naomi Ekberg and Lilly Ekberg; three great-grandchildren, Adeline, Samuel and Medora Aichele with another great-granddaughter expected in July; brothers, Bernell, Bismarck, Floyd (Bev), Bismarck, and Lee Allen, Sterling; sisters Luella (Ben) Rath, Sterling, and Shirley (Ron) Hankel, LaMoure; sister-in-law, Jean Aichele; and many nieces and nephews.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mathilda (Tillie) Aichele; brother, Glen Aichele; in-laws, Jerry Buck and Evelyn Aichele.