Howard Nelson Ledin

Howard Ledin passed away Monday, November 4, 2024 at MHealth Fairview Hospital in Wyoming at the age of 99.

Howard Nelson Ledin was born July 27, 1925 to Harry and Marvel (Nelson) Ledin at home on the family dairy farm in Spring Lake, Isanti County Minnesota. He was the oldest of three children in this close knit community of Swedish Lutherans. He attended school at the Spring Lake country school until 8th grade. At that time, the school closed and was consolidated with North Branch School District. He graduated from North Branch High school in 1943. He grew up during the Depression years with no rain and triple digit temperatures. He and his siblings picked cucumbers which they sold for very little but they prevailed. The farmhouse was lit with kerosene lanterns and no indoor plumbing. In spite of all of the farm work, Howard and his brother Ronny were excellent baseball players and students. Howard was the pitcher for the team and continued to play for local teams in his adult years. His sister Marilyn was very talented musically and a very good student also. All three siblings graduated from college. 

In 1943, at age 17, Howard graduated from North Branch High School and enlisted in the US Navy July 1, 1943. Howard served in the US Navy for three years from 1943-1946. He trained and graduated as a Radioman at Bainbridge Naval Training Station in Maryland and was stationed stateside for 2 years. The third year he was deployed, leaving San Francisco on a troop transport ship headed for the area of the Philippine Islands for the invasion of Japan. Halfway there, the first atom bomb was dropped on on Hiroshima, Japan August 6, 1945 and three days later on August 9, the second atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Japan then surrendered. Howard spent his final year of military service on US Navy Landing Ship Tank #1058 (LST#1058) in the Philippine Islands. 

Howard met his future wife, Leone, at their mutual friends’ wedding in 1949. They married in October 1950 the same year Howard graduated from University of Minnesota Law School. He worked at State Farm Insurance Company as a claims adjuster investigating auto accidents for three years. In 1953, he and wife and two young daughters moved to Hinckley MN to open a Law office. One day before the move to Hinckley, he received an ominous warning from a former Hinckley lawyer that he would be making a big mistake! But there was no turning back. Howard opened the Hinckley Law office and his perseverance paid off. In 1955 a Pine City attorney offered him a position in his office and in 1959 they moved to Pine City. Howard served as Pine County Attorney from 1960 to 1974 and continued practicing law until age 85. Howard's law career spanned 58 years. Howard and Leone raised three children, Lisa, Kerry and Mike Ledin. 

Howard and his wife loved to travel and visited many countries, including Europe, Mexico, Thailand and Hong Kong. For 16 years they wintered for two months in the city of Rockport, on the Texas Gulf Coast. 

Howard was a lifelong Minnesota Gophers football fan and held season tickets for more than 50 years. He always watched the Minnesota Vikings but his loyalty switched to the Green Bay Packers when the Vikings disappointed him too often. He was a Minnesota Twins fan and kept track of all Major League baseball scores. He stayed very active, continuing to golf until he was 97. He had strong connections in the community of Pine City at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Pine City Lions, Masonic Lodge, American Legion, and Salvation Army, to name a few. 

Howard lived at Rushseba Station Assisted Living in Rush City for the last three years of his life. He was amazingly independent and wise throughout his years and his family and friends will miss his guidance, stories, jokes and everything about him. Howard was always modest but he had a phenomenal retention of people, places and events that had occurred in his long life. 

Howard’s secrets to Longevity: first he was married (68 years) to a wonderful wife, Leone Ledin; second, a reasonable amount of exercise, he jogged 2 miles/day for over 40 years; and third, consuming a reasonable amount of good spirits and enjoying a good meal of sunfish and/or walleye. 

Howard is survived by his children Lisa Ledin (Fred Crea) of Minneapolis, Kerry Ledin (Mark Skodje) of Upsala, Mike Ledin of Spring Lake and Marjorie Ledin of Forest Lake; grandchildren Dan Ledin of St. Paul, John Crea of Minneapolis, Ana Crea of Houston, Texas; great-grandchildren James Ledin, Jacob Howlett, Prudence Ledin; brother-in-law Bob Davidson of Plymouth; sister-in-law Bonnie Bever of Bemidji; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents Harry and Marvel Ledin; wife Leone Ledin; granddaughter LeAnn Ledin; great-granddaughter Katelyn Howlett; brother John Ronald (Rosemary) Ledin; sister Marilyn Davidson; brother-in-law Russ Bever.

Reverend John Stiles and Rev. Dr. Vicki Vander Vegt will officiate funeral services for Howard: 11 AM; Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City. A time of visitation and reviewal will be held 4:00-8:00 PM with a Masonic Service at 7:30 PM Tuesday evening (11/12) at the Swanson Funeral Chapel and in addition a one hour reviewal prior to the service at church.   Military honors for Howard will be provided by the Pine City VFW, Pine City American Legion and U.S. Navy outside the church following the service; after which a luncheon will be served at church.  A Social Hour will be held 1:30-2:30 PM at the Heath-Perkins American Legion Post #51.  Everyone is welcome and invited to all events. 

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to all of the staff at Rushseba Station and MHealth Fairview Lakes Medical Center, Wyoming Mn.

Memorials in Howard's memory may be directed to: Salvation Army, 2727 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 or LoonWatch Program, c/o Institutional Advancement, Northland College, 1411 Ellis Ave, Ashland, WI 54806 

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.

www.FuneralAndCremationService.com