LeRoy Atkinson

LeRoy Roger Atkinson was born April 4, 1933 to LeRoy and Lauretta (Pruess) Atkinson in Perham, MN. He grew up in Perham and graduated from Perham High School. While boxing and playing football on the 1950 undefeated and unscored-upon football team he went on to Wahpeton State School of Science to study to become an electrician. He joined the Army and served in Alaska for two years before returning home and moving to Minneapolis where he worked for Johnson Appliances & TV Repair where he met Betty Strayer. LeRoy and Betty were married in 1957. LeRoy started working as a driver for Pepsi Cola and was the top salesman for 14 years. He then decided to move his family from Coon Rapids back to his home town and build his trap and skeet shooting center. He loved teaching kids how to play football, baseball, box, plus teaching people how to shoot trap and skeet. LeRoy started the 4H shooting sports in the area and he and Craig Swanson got the Perham Hot Shots team started. LeRoy loved pheasant hunting with family and friends in South Dakota, duck and goose hunting in Minnesota and North Dakota, and deer hunting with his best friend Roger. There are so many positive things LeRoy did for the area.

LeRoy was called to heaven on January 19, 2025 at home surrounded by his family.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Betty; son Allan Atkinson and daughters Sandra (Nick) Lien and LaRae Atkinson all of Perham; six grandchildren Eric Soland, Melissa (Ahmad) Muhaisen, Amanda (Larry) Myers, Steven Lien, Kevin Lien, and Logan (Rachel) Yates; five great-grandchildren Kareem and Rashad Muhaisen, Aryanna and Avaya Myers, and August Lien; and his brother Lowell (Carol) Atkinson.

Preceding LeRoy in death were his parents; his sister Lynette (Paul) Grismer; his brother-in-law Jack Strayer; and his brother Gerald (Patricia) Harrington.

LeRoy will be dearly missed by so many.

In loving memory, may all the work I’ve done speak for me.

Celebration of Life will be 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 at the Fort Thunder Shooting Center.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com