Leonard Paye, age 83, of rural Cavour, died Thursday, March 6, 2008, at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Tuesday, March 11, at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Kevin Channell officiating. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council. Visitation will be Monday from 1:00 to 8:00 PM at the Welter Funeral Home with a Prayer Service at 6:00 PM and the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, or Tuesday morning one hour prior to the service at the church. Leonard Paye was born Hoye Leonard Paye on April 15, 1924, to Horace and Hilda (Brodersen) Paye on the family farm near Cavour, SD. He attended country school through the eighth grade but continued to live and work on the family farm until his entry into military service. On April 6, 1945, Leonard entered the U.S. Army during World War II and served in Germany during the post-war U.S. occupation period. He was honorably discharged on November 26, 1946. Following the war he returned home and worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Huron. On February 19, 1949, Leonard married Maxine Burnett in Huron. The couple lived in Huron until 1952 when Leonard was transferred by the Bureau of Reclamation to Lemmon, SD, in the capacity as dam tender at the Shade Hill Dam near Lemmon. In 1954 the family moved back to the Cavour family farm and helped run the family farm. He and his brothers eventually bought their own individual farm land, but they operated their farms together as a group. He continued to work on the farm until ill health forced him to stop a few months ago. In 2000, Leonard and several World War II veterans who did not complete high school because of the war were awarded an honorary high school diploma by the Huron High School. Leonard was able to fix/repair anything, and over the years Leonard and his brothers, later his sons, operated Paye & Sons Repair Shop. He restored many tractors and was especially proud of his work, along with Maxine, on the restoration of the 1923 Aultman Taylor tractor that his father had owned. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family; also fixing and make machinery parts. One of his favorite past times was talking on the phone with family and friends. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church; William Reaves American Legion Post #7; lifetime member of Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776 of which he served in all of the officer-chairs including Commander; and the Huron Area Antique Power Association. He helped with the weekly VFW Bingo, and was a member of the Huron Veterans Council Funeral Honor Guard for many years. He is survived by his wife, Maxine of rural Cavour; 5 children, Jeffry Paye of Huron, Thomas (Marlin) Paye of Huron, Debra Meyers of Rapid City, Steven (Michelle) Paye of rural Cavour, and Todd (Connie) Paye of rural Cavour; 14 grandchildren, James (Brenda) Paye, Ryan (Becky) Paye, Becky Paye, Laura Paye, Mike (Sue) Paye, Kristin Paye, A.J. Meyers, Eric Paye, Jenna (Shaun) Hurlbut, Steph Paye, Jennifer Lambert, Brent Paye, Brennen Paye, and Kelcie Paye; 17 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Ruth (Clarence) Krutzfeldt of Virgil, and Betty (Max) Patridge of La Mirada, CA; and 2 sisters-in-law, Mildred Paye of Wolsey, and Dorothy Paye of Huron; He was preceded in death by his parents; 1 son, Michael Paye; 2 grandsons, Gareld Paye and Dylan Paye; and 3 brothers, Roy Paye, Ray Paye, and an infant brother.