LeRoy Benny Lake

LeRoy Lake, age 90, of Menahga, Minnesota, passed away on November 15, 2025, at Rose Haven Assisted Living in Menahga. A burial service will be held at Meadow Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2:00pm.

LeRoy Benny Lake was born to John and Annie (Kinnunen) Lake at the farm east of Menahga. He was baptized and confirmed at Meadow Apostolic Lutheran Church. LeRoy attended country school and then enlisted in the Army. LeRoy served in the Army for two years before he was honorably discharged in October of 1956. He married June Hepola on November 3, 1956. LeRoy held various jobs throughout his life, but most will remember his smiling face as head custodian at the Menahga Public School. LeRoy loved baseball, playing ball and later became an umpire. He was rarely without a western in his hand, and his creativity came alive in the colorful birdhouses he made. Family meant everything to him, he traveled often to visit brothers and sisters, cherishing those gatherings. Proud of his Finnish roots, he loved speaking Finn with old folks, keeping heritage and tradition close to his heart. He was devoted to his many little poodles, whose companionship brought him endless joy. Above all, he treasured his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, bouncing them on his knees and watching with delight as they played their high school sports.

LeRoy is survived by his wife, June (Hepola) Lake, children: Debbie (Brian) Madsen of Menahga, Randy (Christine) Lake of Menahga, grandchildren: Jackie (Seth) Wilson, Tammy Madsen, Scott Madsen, Alayna (Kyle) Skoog, Aimee (Lars) Pietila, Annie (Erik) Moe, Amanda (Connor) Korvela, Aaron Lake, Isabel Lake, Kaydence Lake, Mia Lake and Daniela Lake, great grandchildren: Olivia Wilson, Liam Wilson, Mila Skoog, Deacon Skoog, Landon Moe, Everett Pietila, Beea Korvela, Easton Moe, Micah Skoog; brothers-in-law Ruben Hepola of Coffeyville, Kansas, LeRoy Hepola of Menahga, and many nieces and nephews. LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Andrew, Henry, Jalmer, Carl and Raymond, and sisters: Elsie Lake, Ellen Hillstrom, Helmie Laitinen, Mayme Crackel, and twin sister, Leila Stansbury.