Leon Trandem

Leon Trandem, age 91, of Erskine, MN, passed away on Monday (May 20th) at Sanford Health Palliative Care Unit in Fargo, ND. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (May 28th) at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with the Rev. Timothy Lundeen officiating. Inurnment will be in Rodnes Lutheran Cemetery, rural Erskine, at a later date. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday (May 28th) at the church. Military honors will be conducted by the Bailey-Throne American Legion Post #596 of Erskine and the National Guard Honors Team. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Leon Stewart Trandem was born on July 27, 1921 in Woodside Township, rural Erskine, Minnesota to parents John and Ida (Ramberg) Trandem. He was raised in Woodside and attended the Maple Grove rural school near Erskine. In August of 1942, he entered the United States Army, serving in the European Theatre during World War II. He received his honorable discharge in January of 1946 and returned home.Leon was united in marriage to Edith Hedrich on March 9, 1946 at the Rodnes Lutheran Church Parsonage. After their marriage, Leon and Edie lived and worked in the Detroit area until 1948 at which time they moved back to Leon's roots in Erskine. Together they owned and operated Leon and Edie's Café in Erskine from 1949 until their retirement in 1986. Edie passed away on July 29, 2008. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where he had served as a Trustee. He served on the Erskine City Council, was Justice of the Peace for 15 years and Sexton of Fairview Cemetery for 10 years. He delivered Meals-on-Wheels in Erskine for 15 years and then peeled potatoes for Erskine Senior Meals for another 17 years. He was proud to be a U.S. Army Veteran and a Life Member of the Bailey-Throne American Legion Post #596 of Erskine.Survivors include three sons, Steven (Susan) of Moorhead, MN, Wayne of Erskine, and Bruce of Erskine; one daughter, Dawn (John) Richards of Hawley, MN; 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; one sister, Sylvia Kappedal of Tucson, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Edith; four brothers, Orvis, Aaron, Walter and Lloyd; and one sister, Judith Paulson.Honorary Pallbearers: All of Leon's family and friendsActive Pallbearers: Grandchildren - Kenneth Trandem, Samuel Trandem, Jody Trandem, Mark Trandem, Casey Trandem, Erin Trandem, Ben Richards, Sara Koppelman, Katherine Scott, and Angela Richards.