Leo J. Reiser Jr. age 70, of Turtle Lake, ND went to be with Jesus and is finally free of all pain and able to walk as he so desperately wanted to do.  He will never again have to struggle for every breath of air in his heavenly home.  Leo lost his battle with pancreatic cancer after a four year struggle on July 31, 2020 at Sanford Health, Bismarck, ND.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 7, 2020 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake, ND with Pastor Sondra Krogstad officiating.  Interment will be held at 2:00 PM Friday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND with military rites provided by the Mandan VFW and American Legion and the ND National Guard.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.

Leo was born September 29, 1949 in Bismarck the son of Leo Reiser Sr. and Leota (Beierle) Reiser.  He attended grade school and high school in Turtle Lake.  He also attended Hansen Mechanical Trade School in Fargo and became a diesel mechanic.  He first worked for Zwicker Motor Company and Hass Chevrolet in Turtle Lake.  Leo met a young lady, LaVonne Demchuk at a wedding dance in Turtle Lake and they started dating and fell in love.  Marriage would have to wait due to Leo joining the military.  He was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska as a recovery systems operator with his own wrecker.  Apparently the United States Army thought a North Dakota boy should know how to rescue vehicles from the icy mountainside roads.  Leo was honorably discharged in 1972 and married LaVonne Demchuk on September 30, 1972 in Turtle Lake.

He started work at Cooperative Power Association south of Underwood, ND before the power plant began operation.  Leo was the mechanical maintenance foreman and held several different titles until retiring after 33 years from Great River Energy.  Leo and LaVonne were overjoyed to learn they were expecting their first child.  Jennifer was born in 1978 and Leo telling everyone how he paid for her hospital bill with fox and coyote pelts that he had trapped.  John L. Reiser was born in 1980 and in 1981 their daughter Jami completed the family.  In 1986 they purchased 13 acres of rock and weeds two miles south of Turtle Lake.  The family transformed the land into a beautiful setting on which they raised their family.  They loved landscaping and watching things grow.

Leo was active in many organizations including; being the Commander and Adjutant of the Turtle Lake American Legion, President of Trinity Lutheran Church Council, Chief of the Turtle Lake Fire Department, Trinity Lutheran League Advisor and a volunteer with the Turtle Lake Ambulance Service.  Leo and LaVonne shared the fun times of being very loyal Green Bay Packer fans but above all he cherished being a "Grandpa."  Even on his deepest, darkest days, the mere mention of anyone of their names would bring a smile.

Leo is survived by his wife of 47 years, LaVonne; his children, Jennifer (Mark) Anderson of Fargo, John L. Reiser of Mandan, ND and Jami (Jason Fall) of Mandan; his six grandchildren, Karsten Hegney, Kaullen Hegney, Jaelee Hegney all of Mandan, Sawyer Anderson of Fargo, Bailey Reiser of Mandan, Sloane Anderson of Fargo; his mother-in-law, Veona Hansen of St. Gabriel's in Bismarck; his sisters, Lois Rust of Turtle Lake and Janet (Del) Schnaidt of Minnesota and his step grandchildren and step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, Lynda and brother-in-law, Rodney Rust.