Leslee Burns

Leslee William Burns was born Sept. 14, 1953, at Hot Springs, S.D., to Lester and Georgia (Armstrong) Burns and was raised in the Hot Springs and Custer, S.D., area. He was a Vietnam seteran, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1971-74. He made Mitchell, S.D., his home in 1975. He was a welder, mechanic and semi truck driver.

Leslee was a member of the Nazarene Church. He loved to fish. He also enjoyed meeting and sharing life stories with everyone he met. He always told a good story and was a gentle man. Although he was so frail, he gave those around him such courage and hope and reminded them of the preciousness of life. He loved all the time he got to spend with his grandkids. 

Leslee died Thursday, March 4, 2010, of cancer, at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls. He was 56 years old. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends. 

Funeral services were March 8 at the Harvest Community Church of the Nazarene in Mitchell. Military graveside services were in the Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Jackie Burns and Randall Burns.

Survivors include a son, Brian Burns of Mitchell; three daughters, Sonia (Henry) Cramer of Sioux Falls, Jackie (Paul) Boucher of Worthing, S.D., Ashley Burns of Fargo, N.D.; five grandchildren; two brothers, Charles Burns of Plankinton, S.D., David (Debbie) Burns of Dayton, Nev.; two sisters, Esther (Ralpe) Church of Sacramento, Calif., Robin (George) Jenkins of Rio Linda, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.