Leland Minske, age 71, of Hitchcock, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Avantara – Redfield.

View Leland's Memorial Folder

His memorial service was held at 1:00 PM, Friday, September 5, at Kuhler Funeral Home, Huron. Burial with military honors followed in the Altoona Cemetery, Hitchcock. His service was livestreamed.

Visitation was held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Leland D. Minske was born August 30, 1953, to Dewey and Mona (Oechsle) Minske, and grew up in Hitchcock. He graduated from Hitchcock High School in 1971, immediately beginning his career in the Navy.

He served his country for 21 years, moving to wherever the country needed him to go, retiring to Virginia in 1992.

On February 19, 1984, Leland married the love of his life, Donna Albright. To that union, they welcomed one child, Nichole. They moved to Hitchcock from Florida in 1994 to be closer with family and to the hobbies Leland enjoyed so much. He worked at Huron Manufacturing and Petersons, and enjoyed working multiple odd jobs for farmers in the area.

Leland spent his free time riding Harleys, watching the races, hunting, and range and power rifle shooting. He had a particular fondness for the river in Gettysburg, where he would escape to often to go fishing and being a guide. He loved this country, and was proud to be able to contribute to it with his service in the Navy. Perhaps most importantly, he loved his family, particularly his daughter, his grandkids, and his fur babies.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Donna, of Hitchcock; his daughter Nichole (Cory) Berquist, of Huron; his grandkids, Maci Berquist, of Mitchell, and Tanner Berquist, of Huron; his mother, Mona (Jerome) Kleinsasser, of Huron; three siblings; his military friends; and his fur babies, Mitzi, Maddi and Mia.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dewey Minske; and his sister, Shelley Minske.

View Leland's Floral Arrangements