Leonard A. Bellefeuille

Leonard A. Bellefeuille, 92 year old resident of Northfield, MN formerly of Little Falls, MN died Friday, October 7 from the effects of a fall at the Three Links Reflections in Northfield, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, October 12 at 10:00 A.M. at Holy Family Catholic Church Belle Prairie north of Little Falls, MN with Father Mark Innocenti officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, October 11 at Emblom Funeral Service in Little Falls, MN and from 9:00 A.M. until the hour of service on Wednesday at the church. Parish Prayers will be said at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Leonard was born February 13, 1919 in Irondale Township, Crow Wing County, Minnesota the sixth of nine boys, to Joseph and Marie (Desilet) Bellefeuille. He was baptized at St. Joseph's Church in Crosby, Minnesota on February 16, 1919. He grew up in the rural area around Crosby and Brainerd. During the Depression, he worked in the CCC Camps, surveying lakes and logging roads in Northern Minnesota. During World War II, Leonard lived in Seattle, and worked converting ships into troop carriers. After the war, he and his family returned to Minnesota, and owned and operated a small grocery store in Little Falls. They moved to Minneapolis, where he worked as an electrician for Parson Electric for the remainder of his career. Leonard and his family lived in Richfield, MN for nearly 40 years, but after retirement, he went to the warm climate of McAllen, Texas for the winters. He spent his summers fishing on Lake Michigan in the Algoma, WI area. Fishing was his favorite thing in the world to do. He taught almost all of his grandsons how to fish, and spent so many happy times on the water. Every time Leonard caught a fish, he was as excited as when he caught his first one, and was equally excited when anyone else caught one too. In his late 80's he had to give up fishing... too much work, too many long hours in the boat. In 2008, when he was 89 years old he moved back to Minnesota, this time to Northfield, where he was close to his children and grandchildren. Left to cherish his memory are his children LeRoy (Kathleen) Bellefeuille of St. Paul, MN, Wallace (Julie) Bellefeuille of New Prague, MN, Judy (Dean) Douglas of Lincoln, NE, Darlene (Delroy) Richter of Loretto, MN, Dianne (Warren) Nord of Claremont, MN; brothers, Phillip Bellefeuille of Seattle, WA and Robert Bellefeuille of Bloomington, MN; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marie; former wife, Delphine; six brothers and granddaughter, Danielle Nord. Casket Bearers will be: Leonard Bellefeuille, Joe Bellefeuille, Phillip Bellefeuille, Brad Douglas, Brian Douglas, Richard Bellefeuille, Jason Richter, Paul Richter and John Nord.