Leander “Lee” M. Kruchten
Sartell
July 24, 1930 – June 7, 2015
Leander “Lee” M. Kruchten, 84, of Sartell, died June 7 at Country Manor in Sartell.
His funeral was held June 12 in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell. The Rec. Timothy Baltes officiated. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Kruchten was born July 24, 1930 in LeSauk Township, Stearns County, Minn. to Paul and Catherine (Kremer) Kruchten. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1948. He married LaVerne Bidinger on April 29, 1954 at St. Francis church in Sartell. He worked at the Sartell Paper Mill, the Fish and Game Department, Dezurik’s, and the Burlington Northern Railroad as a clerk. In addition to work, he proudly took over the family farm where he and Laverne raised a large family. He was an active member of St. Francis church where he sang in the choir and volunteered for the school lunch. He was a member Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Fr. Pierz Assembly 530, Knights of Columbus Council 5276, St. Cloud Eagles Aerie 622, and NARVE. He also served on the LeSauk Township Board and volunteered at the Salvation Army Food Shelf.
Kruchten will be remembered for his love of family and his generosity of time and spirit. Lee also enjoyed the outdoors which included hunting and fishing, and his love of sports.
Survivors include the following: his children Deb Weihrauch of St. Cloud, Doris (Ken) Nathe of Sartell, Donna (Chuck) Wenz of Little Falls, Diane (Tom) Gaughan of Sartell, Denise (Bryan) Robertson of Rice, Darrell (Cheryl) of Sartell, Danila (Jim) Skroch of Holdingford, and Dorothy (Jeff) George of Rice; 23 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bill Traut, Gene (Darlene) Bidinger, Bob (Vi) Bidinger, and Mary Ann (Ken) Pietron, all of Sartell.
Preceding him in death were the following: his parents, wife LaVerne (2006), son-in-law Jeff Weihrauch (2013), great-grandson Zachary, sisters Verda Traut and Rita (Bernard) Traut, and sister-in-law Marcy (Marvin) Traut.
