Leroy “Butch” Brelje

Obituary

Leroy “Butch” Howard Brelje was born on January 25, 1938, in Glencoe Township, Minnesota. He was the son of Lorenz and Caroline (Duehn) Brelje. Leroy was baptized as an infant on February 13, 1938, by Alfred Streufert and later confirmed in his faith as a youth on April 6, 1952, by A.H. Fellwock, both at First Evengelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe. He received his education at First Lutheran School and Glencoe High School.

On August 24, 1963, Leroy was united in marriage to Mary Ondracek at Czech Brethren Presbyterian Church in Silver Lake, Minnesota. Leroy and Mary resided on the Brelje family farm south of Glencoe. This marriage was blessed with four children, Steve, Cheryl, Linda, and Loren. They shared 57 years of marriage.

Leroy was a farmer until his retirement in 2000. During the off seasons, he worked part-time at BNT Implement.

Leroy enjoyed going to coffee with his friends, being outside, and tinkering in the sheds. He especially enjoyed going on vacations, Mary's homemade cooking and desserts, spending quality time with his family, joking around and being silly with his grandchildren.

Leroy passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at GlenFields Living with Care in Glencoe, at the age of 83 years.

Blessed be his memory.

Leroy is survived by his:
Wife, Mary Brelje;
Children, Steve Brelje and his wife, Karen,
                  Cheryl Templin and her husband, Jon,
                  Linda Urban and her husband, Gregg,
                  Loren Brelje and his wife Vonnie;
Grandchildren, Trevor Brelje, Nicholas Brelje and his fiancé Morgan Streich, Holly Sanken and her husband, Michael, Katie Urban, Jenessa Urban, Lucas Brelje, Lily Brelje;
Step-Grandchildren, Alissa Alsleben and her husband Luke, Matthew Templin;
Great Grandchildren, Hattie Sanken, Elliott Alsleben;
Siblings, Vernon Brelje, Edwin Brelje and his wife Dorothy;
Brother-in-law, Neil Selchow;
Sisters-in-law, Darlene Ondracek, Doris Wraspir;
Many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Leroy is preceded in death by his parents, Lorenz and Caroline Brelje; siblings, Marion Gronewold and her husband, Herb, Dorothy Selchow, Marvin Brelje, Lois “Polly” Zuehl and her husband Wilmer; sisters-in-law Jeanne Brelje, Barbara Brelje; brothers-in-law David Ondracek, Glen Wraspir; grandparents, Henry and Minnie Brelje, Fred and Ida Duehn; Father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Helen Ondracek.