Leon Jurgens
Leon Jurgens
Leon Jurgens, age 86, of Wilmot died on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at the Wilmot care center. He operated Leon’s Standard, now known as Jurgens Oil, for many years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Thursday, December 9, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Fr. Gary DeRouchey will celebrate the Mass and interment will take place at Wilmot City Cemetery in Wilmot. A light luncheon will follow the interment at the Wilmot Community Center. The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be available at www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with the vigil beginning at 5 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Thursday.
Leon Arnold Jurgens was born on December 7, 1934, in Milbank to Arnold and Angeline (Kruger) Jurgens. He was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith. Leon grew up in the Wilmot area and graduated from Wilmot High School with the class of 1952.
Following graduation, Leon attended the University of St. Thomas then finished his degree in business at South Dakota State University in Brookings.
Leon was united in marriage with Shirley Mueller on August 25, 1956. They were blessed with five children. The family made their home in Wilmot.
After graduating from college, Leon worked at Jurgens and Sons for a few years. He later ventured on his own and started Leon’s Standard, which eventually became Jurgens Oil. He sold the business to his son, Kevin, in 1987. Leon and Shirley started their own endeavor by opening and operating Sodak Park Resort on Big Stone Lake.
Leon was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and participated on the church council.
Leon was a member of many boards and clubs in Wilmot and the surrounding area. He was on the volunteer fire department, was on the city council, was a member of the Wilmot Community Club, and was president of the Wilmot School Board. Leon directed hunter safety courses, was a member of the Wilmot Sportsman’s Club, and a member of Ducks Unlimited.
Leon enjoyed hunting and fishing, camping with his family and spending time at the casino. Leon will be remembered most for his picture taking, singing “Happy Birthday” to his family members and friends on their special day, hanging out with his number one best friend: his cell phone, and giving his great-grandchildren “knuckles” when they visited.
Leon followed the Minnesota Vikings football and Twins baseball but more importantly, all his grandchildren’s sporting events.
Leon is survived by his wife; children: Kevin (Tammy) Jurgens and Jeffrey (Stephanie) Jurgens, all of Wilmot, Debbie (Tom) Lee of Roslyn, Jerome (Ursula) Jurgens of Leavenworth, KS, and Kari (Mike) Pedersen of Wilmot; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; brother, Tim (Donna) Jurgens; sisters: Helen Hippen and Betty (Dell) Barness; brother-in-law, Gary (LaVonne) Mueller, and sister-in-law, Elaine (Roger) Huff.
He was preceded in death by his parents; great-granddaughters: Savannah Beumer, Briley Miller and Baby C., and father and mother-in-law; and brother-in-law, Gordon Hippen.
Mundwiler Funeral Home of Milbank is in charge of the arrangements.
