Walter Carlton Leyse, Jr.

December 22, 1932 - October 9, 2024

Walter C. Leyse Jr., 91, passed away peacefully on October 9th at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

Walt was born in Sioux Falls on December 22, 1932, to Walter Carlton Leyse Sr. and Leila (Ward) Leyse. He graduated from Washington High School in 1950 and the University of South Dakota with an accounting degree in 1954. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He married Doris Ann Benson in 1954, and they shared over 50 years of a loving marriage until her passing in 2009. They had four children – David, Nancy, Diane, and James.  Walt was a member of Central Baptist Church.

Following two years of active military service in the US Army, Walt joined Brown & Saenger in 1956, where he spent 35 years – 10 as an employee and 25 years in ownership. Upon retirement, Walt and Doris traveled around the US in their RV doing short-term missionary work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Later, they bought a house on Lake Belle Taine near Nevis, MN, which became a highly-anticipated gathering point for their children and grandchildren in the summers. In Minnesota, they met a group of bicycling enthusiasts and made several trips to Europe on biking expeditions.

Walt was very civic-minded and involved in many parts of the Sioux Falls community. He volunteered for 28 years at the Howard Wood Relays, sold tickets at the Shrine Circus for decades, was a youth basketball coach at the YMCA (for which he was named Sportsman of the Year in 1991), was a member of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, was a volunteer at the Orpheum Theater, and was a devoted University of South Dakota alumni and fan. He was a longtime member of the El Riad Shrine. He was a founding member of the Fife and Drum Corps in 1968 and valued being part of that group even as recently as last week. He was on the Board of Directors at The Furniture Mission for several years and enjoyed using his woodworking skills in the workshop.

Even in his later years, Walt was so physically active it was tough for his kids and grandkids to keep up. He'd blaze through a bike ride in Itasca State Park, captain the pontoon for a midday boat parade, then win by double digits in a round of golf before the automatic rear hatch on his trusty minivan clicked shut. He had a quick wit and a generous laugh. He had an extensive repertoire of jokes and one-liners, which he'd deploy with a twinkle in his eye. In accordance with his Norwegian lineage, he loved the Minnesota Vikings football team and was always up for a batch of homemade lefse. He also loved baseball and faithfully cheered on the Twins.

In 2010, Walt reconnected with Betty Pfeifle—an old friend of his and Doris's who, like Walt, had also lost her spouse. The two were close companions who supported each other with love and kindness, lots of laughter and adventure, and enjoyed together all that life still had to offer.

A couple of years ago, Walt wrote up his personal history:  a compendium of 1940s childhood hijinx "that were never explained to [his] mother" to be passed on to future generations of Leyses. He wrote stories about an automotive prank at McKennan Hospital, something called "the rope trick," and an incident involving the Sioux Falls Fire Department, which has since been redacted so as not to taint the friendly, thoughtful, and charming persona otherwise established here.

Walt was a master of the efficient phone call, a maestro on the woodworking bench, a creator of unique, one-of-a-kind wood carvings, and a weaver of beautiful baskets. He was a beloved husband, companion, friend, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He lived a long and a big life, and we will remember him with love and admiration.

Walt was preceded in death by his wife, Doris (Benson) Leyse, his daughter, Diane (Leyse) Dunker, and two angel grandbabies.

He is survived by his children, David Leyse of Sioux Falls, Nancy (Kenneth) Logan of Gainesville, FL, and James (Molly) Leyse of Sioux Falls; six grandchildren, Jonathan (Sarah) Dunker, Emily Dunker, Timothy (Austin) Dunker, Natalie (Joshua) Baker, Christopher Logan, and Lucy Leyse; and two great-grandchildren, Blakely and Jensen Dunker.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 21st, followed by a reception at Miller Funeral Home in downtown Sioux Falls. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 20, from 2:00-4:00 pm at Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main Ave, downtown Sioux Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sioux Falls Furniture Mission.