Leroy Hemish

Leroy A. Hemish, age 94, of Hayti, SD, passed away on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Edgewood Living Center.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 19, 2024, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Scott Dempster will officiate.  The funeral service will be live streamed via our website.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Monday from 10 to 11:00 a.m. and prior to the services at the chapel.

Burial will be at the Canby City Cemetery in Canby, MN. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.  Active pallbearers will be Roger DeVine, Glenn Prouty, Chris Jensen, Sarah Remmers, Julie DeVine,  and Wade Prouty.

Leroy was born on February 18, 1930, in Canby, MN, to Anton and Enis (Arnsdorf) Hemish. He farmed and worked on his parent’s farm saving money for college. He received multiple degrees in Geology from USD and UND. He worked in Norman, OK at the Energy center at the University of Oklahoma.  He married Janice Moravets on August 20, 1961. Leroy continued to work at the University of Oklahoma for several years. Leroy wrote and published numerous books.  He did extensive research for lots of entities on sink holes and such.  He retired and moved to Hayti, SD.

On June 28, 2002, Leroy married Roberta Jensen in Hayti, SD.  They continued to live in Hayti area. He enjoyed gardening, baking pies, canning, freezing and producing produce, dancing and doing anything outdoors.  He loved animals, especially exotic ones such as giraffes and African animals.  He loved the travel that his job provided throughout the world.  He was a well-known speaker as well.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Roberta (Bobby) Hemish, of Hayti; one son, Jesse (fiancé Marci Glines) Hemish, Castlewood, SD; one step son, Christopher (Kathy) Jensen, Spearfish, SD; one step daughter, Deborah (David) Helland, Minot, ND; three grandchildren, Landon, Layne, Maddie; five step grandchildren, Andy, Wendy, Ben, Marcus, Mathew; and three step great-grandchildren, Nicco, Maya, Lexi.; one niece, Lori Anshus Radner;  and one nephew, Craig Hemish.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents Anton and Enis Hemish, sister Jean Hemish, and one brother in law Lyman Anshus.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant, Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham

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