Leonard Wayne Rost was born January 10, 1945, in Glenwood, Minnesota to Arthur and Dolores (Jung) Rost. He died at the age of 78 at Hill Country Memorial Hospital on March 3, 2023.

According to him he was a healthy baby, but never learned to walk until 18 months. Once he learned to walk he never stopped running. His grandma Emma always told him he would regret all his running in his later years. She proved her wise counsel was right when he lost his ability to walk in his later years.

Leonard went to rural school in Westport Township until it was time to enter eighth grade. He was at the top of his class as he was the only one in his grade until he entered high school where he studied hard and spent many hours trying to improve his grades. He used to say that he never learned anything until he entered high school. In 1963 he graduated from Glenwood, Minnesota, high school in the middle of his class. Considering his little education before that, he considered it an accomplishment.

Leonard loved farming and grew up on his family's farm. His favorite job was chopping corn. As a child he performed as a singer with his sister, Dorothy, accompanied by his mother at various church and social functions. He also enjoyed dancing and spent many weekends at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood. It was there he met his wife-to-be, Judith Thoennes.

It was during the VietNam War and after a short courtship they married on September 23, 1967. Leonard was able to obtain a farm deferment, so he was never officially drafted in the service.

After several years working on the family farm Leonard and Judith moved to Alexandria, Minnesota, to start working with his father-in-law at Thoennes Plumbing and Heating. After a few more years they moved to Marshall, Minnesota, where Leonard became warehouse manager at the family's wholesale plumbing business. It was there he obtained his master plumbers license and started his own plumbing business.

In 1976 they moved to Brooten, Minnesota, where he and his wife started Len's Plumbing and Heating. They remained there for eight years and then Leonard got extremely sick and was unable to continue running the business. It was in Brooten where they also found their love for square dancing and travelled around'the state to different clubs. In 1984 they sold their business.

While living in Brooten Leonard and five other men, volunteers from the Brooten Fire Department, agreed to take EMT classes. This service saved many lives because they were able to provide medical services in a rural farming community. An ambulance was later donated by another town for transporting patients to hospitals. This put the six men on 24/7 call until they got new recruits.

Leonard and Judith moved back to Alexandria, Minnesota, in 1984 where he started Advance Plumbing Company. He ran his business until 2007 when he was forced to retire because of bad knees.

All through his life he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a teller of stories, usually always the funny ones that happened to him and members of his family throughout his life. He tried to instill the joy of hunting and fishing in his children and grandchildren. Practical jokes were part of his personality.

After his wife, Judith, retired, they started to look for a winter home to get out of the cold winters. After traveling around Texas for several years, they settled in Fredericksburg, Texas, where they have made

their home since 2015 and travelled back to Minnesota for the summers until Leonard was no longer able to travel.

After moving to Fredericksburg he felt the calling to become a prayer warrior and would stop and pray for people on the street and in stores. He would carry small wooden crosses to hand out to those he prayed for.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judith, and his three children, Jodi (Bradley) Berning of Alexandria, MN, Cindy Lea Rost (Rich Herpers)of Blaine, MN, and Michael Rost of Alexandria, MN and grandchildren, Jasmine Lea Provance, Derek Berning, Benjamin Elofson, Abbygail Elofson, and Carter Rost, and adopted grandson, Carlos Evans; and one great-grandchild, Jacob Provance; brother, Richard (Mary) Rost of Westport, MN, sisters, Teresa Heille, of Sauk Centre, MN, and Jeannie Ahlfors of New London, MN; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Dorothy Taylor, and two brother-in-laws, and twin grandbabies Tony and Brooke.

Services for Leonard will be held March 11, 2023 at 11:00a.m., at Bridge Church in Fredericksburg for local family and friends. On May 21, 2023, his Celebration of Life (party) will be held at New Life Christian Church in Alexandria, Minnesota. Burial will be at Lake Geneva Cemetery in Alexandria, MN.

He is at peace, no longer in pain, and singing with the angels in Heaven.

Memorials may be made to the SPCA or charity of your choice.