Leslie A. Milton, 67, of Brookings, formerly of Astoria, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings.
Memorial services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Wood Lake Lutheran Church in rural Astoria, with the Rev. Sue Sinclair officiating. Burial is in the Wood Lake Lutheran Cemetery. The Houseman Funeral Home in Hendricks, Minnesota, is entrusted with the arrangements.
Leslie Alan Milton was born Dec. 17, 1950, to Leeferd and Margaret ‘Margie’ (Mueller) Milton in Hendricks, Minnesota. Leslie’s father was recalled into the Army shortly after Leslie’s birth, so Leslie’s first home was with his mother and grandparents, Joseph and Emma Milton, on their farm east of Fish Lake near Astoria. He and his mother then moved to join his father at an Army base in Indiana.
Upon Leeferd’s discharge from the Army, they lived on Leeferd and Margie’s farm in Hansonville Township, north of Hendricks. Leslie attended K - fifth grade in Hendricks. In 1960, the family moved onto Joseph and Emma’s farm and Leslie completed sixth - 12th at Astoria, graduating in 1968. Leslie was baptized and confirmed at Wood Lake Lutheran Church north of Astoria.
Throughout his life, Leslie wrestled with the debilitations of a deep depression. This limited much of his life’s activities. He farmed with his father and occasionally worked for other area farmers. The balance of his life was spent living in Brookings, where he was involved in programs to help with depression.
One bright spot in Leslie’s life was when he met Janice Spilde. They became close friends and were married on Sept. 8, 2007. Their marriage was cut short when Janice died on Aug. 6, 2010.
In January 2012, Leslie was admitted into a nursing home in Brookings. Leslie’s family expressed their deep appreciation to the staff at The Neighborhoods at Brookview for their attentive and patient care of their brother.
Leslie is survived by his siblings, Cherry (James) Heisner of Clarkfield, Minnesota, Terry (Janell) Milton of Astoria, Roland Milton of Astoria, Lance (Juanita) Milton of Lindenwood, Illinois, and Marcia Milton of Brookings; 10 nieces and nephews and six great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.
