LESLIE JOHN EGGLESTON

Leslie J. Eggleston, 90 of rural Hamar, North Dakota passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at the Larimore Good Samaritan Center, Larimore, ND with loving family at his side. Funeral Services for Leslie will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake with Pastor Jeff Kapelle officiating. Burial will be in the Warwick Cemetery in the spring. Family invites everyone to a time of fellowship and to share a meal after services at the Warwick Lutheran Church. Military Honors will be provided by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service. Serving as Honorary Bearers will be all of Leslie’s grandchildren and great grandchildren. Leslie John, son of Clifford and Dora (Heinsen) Eggleston was born on May 1, 1922 in Eddy County, rural Hamar, North Dakota. He was raised and educated in the Hamar area, attending Hamar School. He worked on construction and as a mechanic in the area and also worked with the CCC. (Civilian Conservation Corp) Leslie enlisted in the United States Army Air Force and served his country during World War II. He served with the 2528 Army Air Forces Base Unit 2 as an airplane maintenance technician. When Leslie went overseas he was a gunner on a B-24 Liberator Bomber and flew 31 missions from a base in England. He was involved in several crucial battles of World War II including battles in Europe, northern France and Normandy and was the recipient of the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was very humble about his service to his country and always felt sadness for those who didn’t return from the War. He shared several stories about his time in the military including the fact that the actor Jimmy Stewart was his Squadron Commander. Leslie serving in the military was a family affair as his three brothers also served. His brother Marvin was killed in action in Korea. Leslie was honorably discharged on November 26th, 1945 as a Staff Sergeant after 3 years of active duty service. After his discharge, Leslie worked in Hamar, Warwick and also in Montana. Leslie was united in marriage to Joyce Jacobson on December 9, 1956 at Warwick Lutheran Church. They established their home in Grand Forks and Leslie worked at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. After several years they moved to Devils Lake where he worked as a mechanic at Lake Chevrolet. In 1962, Leslie began working for the city of Warwick in the Water Department and also as a Bus Driver for the Warwick School and they made their home at rural Warwick where they lived and worked and raised their family throughout the years. In the later years of his life, they moved back into the town of Hamar. Leslie loved spending time with his beloved family and had a passion for fishing. If he could take one of the grand kids fishing, he was in his glory. Leslie is survived by his devoted wife, Joyce; daughters, Leslie Eggleston-Gleason and her husband Alan Gleason of Tolna and Marcie Vacura and her very special friend Darin of Warwick; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Jason) Gleason-Parker and Tricia (Kerry) Gleason-Griggs, Jeremy, Michael, Joelyn, Mitchell, Kevin and Koty; thirteen great grandchildren, Caleb, Austin, Ariel, Triston, Tessa, Jayden, Desaray, Isaiah, Taylor, Elijah, Anthony, Veronica and Kaylynn; sister Marion Swenson of Eagan, MN; Leslie was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Leroi Eggleston; brothers, Harvey, Floyd and Marvin; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gothard and Agnes Jacobson.