Harold "LeRoy" Ling

Harold “LeRoy” Ling, age 87, of Jackson, Minnesota, entered into eternal rest, at his residence, on Sunday, May 2, 2021. A Celebration of Life Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, with Father Jonathan Fasnacht officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson immediately following the service.

Harold LeRoy Ling, son of Harold and Myrtle (Pittman) Ling, was born on Wednesday, December 13, 1933, on the family farm in the small town of Org, Minnesota. LeRoy attended Bigelow grade school. He attended and graduated from Worthington High School in 1957. LeRoy went to Worthington Junior College for 2 years, before moving to Mankato State where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Science and Mathematics. He continued to attend Mankato State in the Summer to obtain his master’s degree in Mathematics. LeRoy also attended Iowa State, in Ames for a summer to study rocks, Colorado College in Colorado Springs for 3 summers, where he obtained his master’s degree in Chemistry. While in Colorado he also went on a dig to study rocks and minerals. Leroy married Carroline Opek in 1954. This union was blessed with 7 children: Mary, Kathy, Steve, Theresa, Joseph, Paul, and Christine. LeRoy began his teaching career in Jackson in 1956, where he taught chemistry, physics, and mathematics. He also taught at Mankato State for 4 years as Associate Professor of Computer Science. During the summer months off, he worked at Solstad Lumber and Super Value. LeRoy retired from teaching after 35 years. Upon retiring, he worked at Best Western as the night clerk and maintenance for 8 years, before fully retiring in 1996. LeRoy was united in marriage to Shirley Smith on August 16, 1994. LeRoy was blessed with 3 stepchildren Bryan, Dawn and Nicole.  Over the last 6 years, LeRoy’s health began to decline. On Sunday, May 2, 2021, LeRoy was called home to his Lord and Savior, at the age of 87 years, 4 months, and 19 days.

LeRoy enjoyed being outdoors. He and Shirly did quite a bit of traveling and camping. They were the camp host at Kilen Woods State Park for 5 years. LeRoy loved collecting and fixing old computers. He was an avid reader, enjoying history, science, and nonfiction books. In the later years, he enjoyed listening to audio books.  LeRoy wrote a book on mathematics during his teaching years. He was always doing things to keep his mind sharp. LeRoy also had a passion for taking pictures and videos with his video camera. LeRoy was good at racing around the house and outside on the ramps on his power wheelchair. LeRoy will be forever remembered by all of the students that he has taught throughout the years, the friends that he has made, and the family that he has been blessed with.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 26 years Shirley; children Mary (Myron) Kruchenberg, Kathy (Lou) Konez, Steve (Cynthia) Ling, Theresa (Brad) Blume, Joseph (Rachel) Ling, Paul (Jennifer) Ling, and Christine (Ben) Miller; step-children Bryan (Susan) Smith, Dawn (Kurt) Potter, and Nicole (Mike) Pribyl; grandchildren Brenden, Brianna, Bethany, Ben, Lindsey, Alexander, Gregory, Christopher, Jacob, Alexi, Emma and Kane; brother Ralph; sisters Phyllis (Charlie) Middaugh, Nancy Jones, Evelyn Renken, and Judy Cowan; sister-in-law Cleo Ling, along with numerous other relatives.

LeRoy is preceded in death by his parents Howard and Myrtle; an infant son; brother Tom Ling; brothers-in-law Pete Cowan, Arnie Renken, Kenny Jones; and a sister-in-law Sue Ling.

Blessed be the memory of Harold LeRoy Ling.

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