Leander Lee Raether, 77, of Iroquois, died Tuesday, August 2, 2005, at his home in Iroquois. His funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM Friday, August 5th at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Iroquois with Father Cathal Gallagher officiating. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery at Iroquois with Military Rites by the Bensley-Rounds American Legion Post #280 of Iroquois. Friends may call this Thursday afternoon and evening at the Welter Funeral Home or Friday morning prior to the mass at the church. There will be a Scripture Service at 7:00 PM this Thursday evening at the funeral home with the family present from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Leander Leo Raether was born on January 29, 1928, to Herman and Mary (Bruckner) Raether on the family farm near Selby, SD. In 1929 he moved with his family to the Forestburg and Artesian areas and in 1938 they moved to the Esmond area. He attended country school in Sanborn County, Beadle County and Kingsbury County. He attended Esmond High School and during World War II he farmed with his dad until 1950. On January 18, 1951, Lee enlisted in the United States Army. He trained at Ft. Riley, KS, Ft. Campbell, KY and then served in Korea during the Korean Conflict. On October 17, 1953, he was honorably discharged from the United States Army and returned to South Dakota and was employed with Armours and Company. On December 2, 1965, Lee married Patricia Hurst Royal at Huron. They lived in Iroquois since that time. Lee was employed with Armours until his retirement in 1970. He was a member of the Bensley-Rounds American Legion Post #280 of Iroquois. He is survived by four sons, Colin (DeLores) Royal of Huron, Leon Raether of Iroquois, Gregory Raether of Sioux Falls and Pat John Raether of Iroquois; four daughters, Debra Raether of Tempe, AZ, Connie (Bob) Bentz of Prescott Valley, AZ, Val Royal of Iroquois and Renee (Steve) Hall of St. Joseph, MO; 20 grandchildren, Terri, Joshua, Sheana, Dean, Paula, Joe, Richelle, AJ, Robert, William, Amanda, Brandy, Jessica, April, Danielle, Sarah, Josie, Eric, Teah and Jesse; six great grandchildren, Jaymz, Dalton, Justice, Trinitee, Daisalynn and Tate; two brothers, Leonard (Vera) Raether of DeSmet, and Dale (Sue) Raether of Belen, NM; three sisters, Florence Ruby of Brookstone, MN, Betty Shafer of Fair Oaks, CA and Darlene Knouse of Milwaukee, WI; his mother-in-law, Jean Hurst of Redfield; one sister-in-law, Lynnette Sutton of Redfield; one brother-in-law, Glen (Mary) Hurst of Papillion, NE; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia on June 30, 2001, his son Monty Raether, a granddaughter Renee Dawn Janssen, his parents, and two brothers, Herbert and Herman Raether. Pallbearers will be Alan Aughenbaugh, Merlin Smith, Joshua Dalberg, Dean Royal, Eric Moe and Joe Peskey. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kirk Aughenbaugh, Tim Aughenbaugh, Rick Aughenbaugh, Will Janssen, Robert Bentz and Jeff Lund.