Obituary: Leroy Garnaas

Leroy Garnaas

New Rockford, N.D.

Leroy Bjorn Garnaas, 79, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2023 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, N.D.

Leroy's visitation was Wednesday, August 16, 2023 from 10 a.m. to noon at Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford. A funeral service was held Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 1 p.m. at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd Chapel, New Rockford, N.D. His burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery, Sheyenne, N.D.

Officiating with Rev. Paula Loewen. Special music included "He Touched Me,"and "You Have Come Down To the Lake Shore," with orgranist Mary Ellen Rue and soloist Jeff Labrensz. Congregational Hymn was "How Great Thou Art."

Honorary Bearers were all of Leroy's Friends at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd

Leroy was born on November 9, 1943 to Bjorn Garnass and Oresta (Paulson) Garnaas at the St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, N.D. Leroy had no brothers or sisters but several cousins who would visit. Leroy had a wonderful childhood which included swimming, bowling and traveling. He was the captain of the wrestling team while in school. He was a baptized member of the First Lutheran Church of Sheyenne, N.D., where Leroy was also confirmed. He graduated high school from the South Dakota School for the Visually Impaired, Aberdeen, S.D. After his junior year, Leroy spent the summer studying massage at the Kansas City College of Swedish Massage, Kansas City, Mo. He decided to return after high school graduation and earned his certificate on July 18, 1970. He worked in several spas and in 1970 he decided to start Leroy's Massage Center in Sheyenne. After 20 years he had to discontinue his business because of a severe accident. He lost all vision when he was 27 years old. He lived at the Memorial Home in Maddock, N.D. and moved to the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd around 2014.

Leroy loved sports and music. He also enjoyed acting and played the part of Scrooge while in high school, it seemed that this play was each Christmas and the best actor was given the part. He belonged to the N.D. Association of the Blind and the N.D. Association of Massage Therapists. He attended all conventions–state, regional and national–of massage therapists. He always sang solos at their banquets. He would sing solos on Memorial Day at the church and for other groups. He knew the rules of all sports, having learned them from his father. Most of all Leroy loved people.

Leroy is survived by many cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bjorn and Oresta Garnaas.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of New Rockford, N.D.