Richard Dale Leloux

Alvord, IA

     Richard Leloux age 78 of Harrisburg, South Dakota died Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at his residence in Harrisburg.

     Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Bethel Reformed Church in Lester with Pastor Steve Meester, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Hillside Cemetery at Lester.

     Visitation will be Friday, March 11^th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with the family present at the church.   

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rich’s honor to the American Legion and Sanford Hospice.

     Richard Dale Leloux was born to Cornelius & Wilhelmina (Mailand) Leloux on March 24, 1943. He spent his childhood on a farm located just southwest of Alvord. Rich was the youngest of the Leloux siblings.  Rich lost his father at the age of 16, and his mother at the age of 21, so he was grateful to have loving siblings and supportive in-laws who carried him into adulthood.

     After High School he enlisted into the US ARMY (RA) where he spent three years in the 1^st Infantry Division – Big Red 1 with an honorable discharge in June 1964.

     Rich married “his honey” Mary Lee Schlumbohm on August 22, 1964, and they had four children, Craig (Kris) Leloux of Olivia, MN, Eric Leloux (Jennifer Hale) of Alvord, IA, Kevin (Julie) Leloux of Doon, IA, Loretta (Brian Wollman) Leloux of Harrisburg, SD.

     Rich and Mary started their married life together in Escalon, CA but shortly returned to Alvord, IA where Rich began his lifelong career of over the road trucking. Rich had a bias for Peterbilt trucks, where, to his satisfaction, there was never enough lights or chrome to shine. Rich, otherwise known as the Dutchman, met many wonderful people on the road who he often referred to as his “Ole’ Trucking Buddies.” Rich spent the majority of his early career hauling livestock around the Midwest, and to quote him, “bull haulers are God’s chosen few.”  Rich spent 50 years driving over the road and for 40 of those years, owned and operated his own truck. He hauled livestock, operated a pneumatic trailer and ended his career pulling a grain trailer. 

     After retirement in 2015, he still spent time trucking locally at CFE and Dutchland Frozen Foods which he said was a “job of a lifetime.” He often spoke of the rich opportunity he had to drive God’s beautiful countryside through over 45 states and appreciated “Good olé Jake and Kevin for keeping that old 44 Peterbilt running.”

     Rich is survived by his wife, children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Siblings: Frances Leloux of Rock Valley, IA and James (Shirley) Leloux of American Forks, UT, and many nieces, nephews and friends who will cherish his memory. 

     Proceeded in death are Rich’s parents and In-laws, Richard and Loretta Schlumbohm; Rich’s siblings, an infant brother Franciscus, Rica (Leloux) and George Van Den Top, Henry and Grazella Leloux; Tina (Leloux) and Louis Moser, sister-in-law Bertha Leloux and brother-in-law Kenneth Heerde.