Loren R. Leslie

 

CAPT Loren R. Leslie, MC, USNR (Ret) of Lutsen and Minnetonka, MN, died on 31 December, 2022 at the age of 88. He was born in Fillmore County Minnesota and attended LeRoy High School. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota, graduating with Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Doctor of Medicine degrees. In 1955 he wed his high school sweetheart, Arlene Kivell, and they remained happily married for 58 years until her death in 2013.

After Medical School he completed two years of active duty with the Navy, before returning to Minnesota to specialize in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He later served as Executive Director of the Sister Kenney Institute of Minneapolis, the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Peoria, IL and lastly as the Chief of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Minneapolis Veterans’ Administration Medical Center. A 34-year Navy Reservist, CAPT Leslie was recalled to active duty in 1991 to serve as the Commanding Officer of Fleet Hospital 15, a combat zone 500 bed field hospital in support of the First Marine Expeditionary Force while deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during the first Gulf War.

Following retirement to the North Shore of Lake Superior in 1997, he and Arlene traveled extensively in the US and Europe, often visiting the Leslie family ancestral home in northern Scotland and the Shetland Islands. In retirement, Loren served for nine years as the Medical Director of the Silver Bay Minnesota Veterans’ Home and was later elected to the Board of Regents of Concordia University St, Paul, serving on the Executive Board as well as Chair of the Academic Committee.

CAPT Leslie was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Viola, and wife, Arlene. He is survived by his son, Magnus (Amy) Leslie, brother Richard (Arleen) Leslie, brother-in law Wayne (Alyce) Kivell, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, 7 January, one hour prior to 11 a.m. services at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. 5701 Eden Prairie Road, Minnetonka. Interment at a later date at the LeRoy, Minnesota Cemetery. In lieu-of flowers memorials are requested to Bethlehem Lutheran Church Glen Lake Minnetonka, or Concordia University, St. Paul.