Obituary: Leonard Joseph Dyrness, Jr.

Leonard Joseph Dyrness, Jr.

Silver Lakes, Calif.

Leonard Joseph Dyrness, 80, died peacefully, at his home in Silver Lakes, Calif., Wednesday, March 23, 2022, after a five year battle with canter. Funeral arrangements will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church; Victorville, Calif., Monday, April 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Leonard (LJ) was born in New Rockford, N.D., June 5, 1941, to Leonard and Myrtle Dyrness. He was the fourth child of nine boys and two girls; Roland, Raymond, Lauretta, Jimmy, Donnie, Jack, Ralph, Leona, Rudolph and Timothy. He attended St. James Academy, where he graduated from high school in 1960. Leonard enjoyed playing many sports during high school, including basketball, football and baseball. He also could be found helping out at his grandpa, Martin Dyrness', farm in Brantford, N.D., during breaks from school. Shortly after graduation, he moved to California where he went to work, as a machinist, for Tempo Plastics, Burbank, Calif.

On September 14, 1964, Leonard married the love of his life, Susie Dyrness, and they raised two children in Burbank, Calif.; Brent Dyrness (Born 9/17/65) and Jeanne (Dyrness) Urquiza (Born 11/5/66). They have three grandchildren; Alexa Brand, Jessica and Troy Urquiza.

After many years with Tempo Plastics, Leonard joined his four brothers as part owner of Dyrness Automotive, Glendale, Calif., where he remained until his retirement in 2012.

Since 1989, Leonard and Susie have enjoyed living on a beautiful lake in Silber Lakes, Calif., a small community near Victorville, Calif.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Myrtle, and his brothers, Roland, Raymond, Jimmy, Donnie, Rudolph and Timothy.

Our dear Leonard will always be remembered for his loving ways, dry sense of humor and amazing kindness toward all who knew him. He had a daily routine of attending early mass, stopping to drop the newspaper off to his sister, Lauretta, and visiting his famous little "Watering Hole, Johnny Fingers restaurant and bar, in Victorville. Though he lived a simple life, he leaves a legacy complete with all the most beautiful attributes a man could ever have. He was one of a kind and his motto was always "Don't worry about me." We miss you already, LJ, but we are not worried because we absolutely know you are with the Lord. Amen.