REV. LEROY E. NEVIN

Rev. LeRoy E. Nevin

April 18, 1934-June 7, 2020

Rev. LeRoy E. Nevin, 86, of Sioux Falls, SD went to his heavenly home on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.

His memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls, and will be livestreamed. Memorial visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19 at the funeral home.

LeRoy Elwood Nevin, one of the eight sons of Samuel and Gertrude (Warland) Nevin, was born April 18, 1934 in Cumberland, WI. He grew up on the family dairy farm and attended country school. He later attended Junior High School in Cumberland before graduating from Barron (WI) High School in 1952. Following high school, LeRoy went to Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN from 1952 to 1956.

He was united in marriage with Elaine Grace Peterson on July 16, 1955 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Cumberland, WI.

Following college graduation, LeRoy attended Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis. He was ordained in June of 1959. LeRoy filled the pulpit at parishes in Clayton, WI and Georgetown/McKinley, WI on weekends while attending seminary. He served summer internships at Morris, MN in 1957 and Esconaba and Menominee, MI and Marinette, WI in 1958. His first call was to Zion Lutheran Church, Adrian, MN where he served from June of 1959 until 1964. He next served St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Franklin, MN from 1964 to 1972. After that, he accepted a call to the two-point parish of Our Savior’s and Skogdalen Lutheran Churches, Westby, WI from 1972 to 1987. LeRoy then accepted a call as the first chaplain of Bethany Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Brainerd, MN. He retired from full-time ministry in 1999. During this time, the Good Samaritan Society acquired Woodland Hills Nursing Home and added this facility to his workload. Also, during his time in the Brainerd Lakes area, he accepted a call to Bethel Lutheran Church just outside of Brainerd from 1989 to 1999.

As part of his retirement plans, LeRoy and Elaine moved to Sioux Falls, SD in 1999 to be closer to family and grandchildren. Once there, he served as a part-time chaplain at Sioux Valley (now Sanford) Hospital from 1999 to 2005. In 2000, LeRoy accepted a position as a visitation pastor at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. He served in that capacity until 2015.

During his ministry, LeRoy served on many church boards and committees, including Pipestone Pastors Conference of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), Viroqua Pastors Conference of the ALC, Southwest Minnesota ALC District Conference, Southwest Wisconsin ALC and ELCA District Conference and Northeast Minnesota District Pastors Conference. He was also active in Lutheran Brotherhood, Aid Association for Lutherans and Kiwanis for many years. LeRoy served for many years with the Westby, WI Salvation Army Operation Christmas, helping homeless individuals and families get back on track. He enjoyed his many years on the Board of Directors for Norseland Nursing Home Board in Westby, WI and Bethel Home in Viroqua, WI. He was active with Sugar Creek Bible Camp, Ferryville, WI. In later years, LeRoy was active with many different Lutheran Men in Mission groups along with clean up days and retreats locally and in the region. He was also glad to help start joint Good Friday at various Westby churches and joint 4^th of July church services in the Westby Park, with all churches coming together.

LeRoy enjoyed fishing as a child and continued to fish whenever he could while not ministering to others. In earlier years when money was tight, he planted and grew large gardens to help feed his family. LeRoy always enjoyed a good joke, and especially enjoyed sharing Ole and Lena jokes. He enjoyed traveling and took the family on many long vacations across the U.S. in the car and with the Tow Low camper. LeRoy and Elaine joined family on many trips in the Midwest, but also the East coast, especially Lake Lure, NC while visiting all the states in between. In addition, LeRoy and Elaine were able to visit Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Hawaii and Alaska. They especially enjoyed seeing the Holy Land.

During his 57 years of ministry, LeRoy considered it a special gift to be with families during their time of need. Whether it was an accident, illness or death, hundreds upon hundreds of families shared their gratitude for his bedside manner and the extra time and trips he made to be with them and make difficult times as easy as possible for them.

Grateful for having shared his life are his loving wife of almost 65 years, Elaine; four children, Philip Nevin and his wife, Cynthia, Ramsey, MN, Joyce Nevin, Sioux Falls, SD, Paul Nevin, Eagan, MN, Joel Nevin and his wife, Barbara, Sioux Falls, SD; six grandchildren, Rachel Solan and her husband, Teryn, Joel’s daughter, Omaha, NE, Kristina Nevin, Paul’s daughter, Woodbury, MN, Joshua Nevin, Joel’s son, Sioux Falls, SD, Johanna Nevin, Paul’s daughter, Milwaukee, WI, LeeAnna Nevin, Philip’s daughter, Duluth, MN, Becca Nevin, Joel’s daughter, Sioux Falls, SD; two brothers, Lloyd Nevin and his wife, Janice, Star Prairie, WI, Sydney Nevin, Spooner, WI; three sisters-in-law, Ida, Lillian and Lotus; and many other relatives and friends.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Gertrude Nevin; five brothers, Robert Nevin, Darold Nevin, Clyde Nevin, Wayne Nevin and Richard Nevin; and two sisters-in-law, Carol and Phyllis.

Please consider a donation in memory of Pastor LeRoy to Project CAR at First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Arrangements are with George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls, SD. Online guestbook and link to the livestream at georgeboom.com.