Stevensville – LeRoy Eugene Niemann, 90, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Community Medical Center of dementia.
LeRoy was born August 31, 1925 to Lawrence S. and Dora (Seachris) Niemann in Waynoka, OK. His mother died when he was 12 years old. He was raised by his grandparents, Elmer and Bertha Seachris and Bertha Niemann in Waynoka.
LeRoy attended school at Hutchinson, KS and Waynoka, OK, graduating from Waynoka High School. After graduation, he worked on a ranch and the Texas oil fields.
He went into the U.S. Army on January 29, 1945 in San Antonio, TX. He was on a ship to Okinawa when the atomic bomb hit Japan. He was in Okinawa for two months in the 1341st Combat Engineer Battalion. From Okinawa the unit went to Korea. After two months in Korea, he enlisted in the regular Army for assignment to Germany. In Germany he was in the unit which became part of the U.S. Constabulary. During the 28 years he was in the Army he served in Germany, two tours of duty in Vietnam, one tour in Korea and the United States. He completed the Russian Language course at the U.S. Army Language School in Monterey, CA. He learned to speak German fluently while stationed in Germany. LeRoy ended his military career as a Regimental Intelligence Sergeant.
He married Erna Toertzel in Germany. Karen, Katherine, Denise and Reiner were born to them. They were later divorced.
He was discharged from the U.S. Army at Dugway Proving Ground in 1972 and moved to Idaho to fish and hunt. He lived in Rexburg, ID and spent much time in the Teton Valley fishing and hunting. LeRoy loved to fish and especially ice fish. His hunting was always productive whether it was big game or pheasant.
He enrolled in a night class at Ricks College in Rexburg where he net Ila Marie Long, an instructor. They were married in Idaho Falls in 1973. He graduated with an Associate Degree in Industrial Arts from Ricks College, attended the University of Montana in Missoula for one semester and went on to Provo, UT and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in German and Russian from Brigham Young University. He took graduate courses at Idaho State University in Pocatello. He taught Russian for a semester at Pocatello and night classes in German in Rexburg.
While enrolled in a class of Genealogy at BYU, he became very interested in searching for the history of his family, which became his life’s work.
He became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1972 in Germany and during the years that followed, served in many callings including Boy Scouts leadership. He served three missions in the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, there continuing work on his genealogy too. LeRoy and Ila served a mission to Germany in the Genealogy Microfilm Ordering Center in Frankfurt from 1988 until 1989. During that time he once again gathered much of his family history.
He is survived by his wife, Ila Marie; daughters, Katherine and Denise; a sister, Jan Gladden of Florida; step-children, Teresa (Hyrum) Tatton, Sheryle Richardson, Paul (Lane) Long; Seachris and Niemann cousins. He is also loved by 12 step-grandchildren and their children.
He was preceded in death by his son, Reiner, his daughter, Karen, his parents, a brother-in-law, Bill Gladden, and many of the Seachris and Niemann family with whom he shared his childhood.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 10 until 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stevensville. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment with military honors provided by the Stevensville American Legion Fort Owen Post #94 and the Montana Army National Guard will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial donations may be made in LeRoy’s name to your local Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.