Leslie E. Gross, age 88, of rural Carpenter, died Monday, February 27, 2006, at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service will be at 11:00 AM Friday, March 3, at the Hutterthal Mennonite Church at rural Carpenter with Rev. Matthew Stacey officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call Thursday afternoon and evening at the Welter Funeral Home or prior to the service at the church Friday morning. There will be a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM Thursday evening at the funeral home with the family present from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Leslie E. Gross was born on March 24, 1917, to Jacob J. and Elizabeth (Hofer) Gross near Ladelle in rural Doland, SD. He attended country school near Ladelle and graduated from Doland High School in 1935. He attended and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell in 1940 with degrees in mathematics and physics. On November 27, 1941, Leslie married Martha Hofer. To this union were born their daughter, LaDonna, on September 6, 1942, and their son, VerDean, on February 26, 1946. After finishing college Leslie taught science at Garden City High School and Tulare High School for 2 years, then served as a civilian radio operator instructor at the Army Air Force Base in Sioux Falls from 1942 to 1943. Leslie and Martha returned to the farm in the Carpenter area, and in 1946 they moved to the farm on SD Highway 28. He was actively engaged in farming along with his son, VerDean, until VerDeans death in 1994. Leslies grain and livestock farming career spanned 50 years. Leslies many friends knew of his keen interest in mechanical things. He enjoyed learning to understand how something operated and he could repair almost anything. He took special pride in his collection of old International Harvester and Farmall tractors and many different makes of stationary engines. Leslie restored his first stationary engine in the 1950s and continued his hobby of collecting and restoring engines into his retirement years when he continued to actively acquire stationary engines that he could work on. In the pursuit of his hobby he became acquainted and made lasting friendships with many people in the upper Midwest. He was always willing to show guests his engine collection and took special pride in showing his favorite engines. Reading was also one of Leslies lifelong hobbies. Leslie was a member of the Hutterthal Mennonite Church at rural Carpenter. He had a lifelong interest in community affairs serving as Hutterthal Mennonite Church treasurer for 6 years, Milford Township clerk for 27 years, school board member for 12 years, Beadle County Soil Conservation District Board member for 15 years, 4-H leader for 16 years, and Mennonite Mutual Aid representative for 6 years. Leslie and Martha celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1991. After Martha passed away on June 25, 1992, Leslie continued to live in his rural Carpenter farm home. He is survived by 3 grandchildren, the children of LaDonna and Bernard Blume - Brian (Rachel) Blume of Redfield, Bradley Blume of Rapid City, and Lori Blume of Redfield; 1 great grandson, Cameron Schmidt of Redfield; 1 sister, Anna Walters of Freeman; 1 brother, Alvin (Judy) Gross of Sioux Falls; and 1 son-in-law, Bernard Blume of Redfield. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Martha on June 25, 1992; his son, VerDean Gross on March 6, 1994; his daughter, LaDonna Blume on March 6, 1999; a great granddaughter, Mackenzie Schmidt on February 7, 2005; 1 sister, Mary Gross; 1 brother, Jonas Gross; and 1 brother-in-law, John Walters.