Leslie E. Burkhardt, 84, of Moorhead, MN, died Tuesday in his home surrounded by loving family and under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Leslie was born April 12, 1928, to Dorothy (Schelske) and Fred Burkhardt at Jamestown, ND. The family moved to the Woodworth area where he attended country school and helped on the family farm. He later moved to Fargo where he attended Hanson Auto School and worked for several garages. In 1965 he opened Burkhardt's Texaco in Fargo. He operated numerous Texaco stations in the F-M area and you truly could "Trust your car to the man who wore the star." In 1978 Les decided to down-size and built Burkhardt's Repair at his rural Moorhead home.
On August 14, 1949, Les was united in marriage to Mabel M. Benson of rural Audubon, MN, and they resided in the Fargo-Moorhead area until Mabel entered the Memory Care Unit at Bethany Homes in July 2009. Les and Mabel were blessed with five children and 15 grandchildren as well as three great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.
Les was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church for all of his married life. He was a member of the Fargo Eagles Aerie No. 153 for many years and also a member of the North Dakota Gas Retailers Association.
Les enjoyed fishing and spending time with family at his cabin on Crystal Lake. In his later years he spent much time playing cards with the senior citizens at the Hjemkomst Senior Center and the Sons of Norway.
Les is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mabel; three daughters, Patricia (Tom) Newgard of Moorhead, Donna (Duane) Hanson of rural Ada, MN, and Marcia (Tim) Rose of Lynchburg, ND; and two sons, Raymond (Lori) of Fargo and Rodney (Susan) of Goodyear, AZ. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Damien, Cory (Denae), Sarah, Justin, Jessica and Matthew Burkhardt, Kristina Fiecke, Jerad, Carson and Karianne Newgard, Wesley, Amanda and Donovan Hanson, and Tyrell and Michael Rose; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Norman (Florence) of Jamestown; and three sisters, Adeline (Muriel) Bartlett of Chandler, AZ, Elaine (Don) Heinitz of Carrington, ND, and Lila (John) Daly of Jamestown.
Les was preceded in death by his parents and his granddaughter's husband, Jeremy Fiecke.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 13, 2012, from 5 - 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral
Chapel, Moorhead.
The Funeral will be Monday, May 14, 2012, at 11 AM, in Grace United Methodist Church, Moorhead.
Burial will be in Moorhead Memorial Gardens.