A memorial service for Reverend LeRoy E. Nevin, age 86, Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of Adrian, MN will be held June 20, 2020 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls, SD. Rev. Nevin went to his heavenly home on Sunday, June 7, 2020, at the Avera Doughert Hospice House in Sioux Falls. 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.
LeRoy was united in marriage with Elaine Grace Peterson on July 16, 1955 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Cumberland. 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 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 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 4th of July church services in the Westby Park.
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 (Cynthia) Nevin, Ramsey, MN; Joyce Nevin, Sioux Falls, SD; Paul Nevin, Eagan, MN; Joel (Barbara) Nevin, Sioux Falls, SD; six grandchildren; Joel’s children, Rachel (Teryn) Solan, Omaha, NE; Joshua Nevin, Sioux Falls, SD, and Becca Nevin, Sioux Falls, SD; Philip’s daughter, LeeAnna Nevin, Duluth, MN; Paul’s children, Kristina Nevin, Woodbury, MN, and Johanna Nevin, Milwaukee, WI; two brothers, Lloyd (Janice) Nevin, 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, Richard Nevin; and two sisters-in-law, Carol and Phyllis.
George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory of Sioux Falls, SD assisted with the arrangements.
