Dennis Alfred Leininger, age 72, resident of Stanchfield, MN, passed away Saturday, August 23, 2014 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.
Dennis was born November 14, 1941 in Tacoma, WA the first son of Alfred and Margie (Beach) Leininger. They moved to North Dakota when Dennis was about 2 years old. He grew up on a farm and was educated in Binford. In 1960 he enlisted in the Navy. However due to a minor heart ailment, he was sent home after 97 days of service. He moved to Fargo to attend Dakota Business College followed by travel of the US working for the Department of Interior. In 1963 he moved to Southern California and worked at Universal Studios. In 1970, he married Carolyn Arntson. In 1971, Dennis moved his family to Minneapolis. From 1973 – 1992, he worked as a Computer Programmer/Systems Analyst in California, ND, TX, and IL. In 1992, Dennis took early retirement and with wife, Carolyn, became small business owners in Minnesota. Following retirement from being a business owner, he moved to Mora where he drove school bus, and enjoyed his land and horses. In 2014, Dennis fell ill and moved to Stanchfield until his death.
Dennis embodied fairness, hard work, empathy, and respect. Dennis had a contagious personality; he always presented himself with a smile, a handshake, and his genuine desire to get to know everyone he met every day. Dennis wife Carolyn said he was her “rock”, her friend, a great father and a wonderful husband. He will be so terribly missed by her and always loved.
Dennis will be missed and remembered by his wife Carolyn Leininger; his children Alanna (Joseph) Eleshuk, Tammy (Al) Huf, Craig (Lisa) Leininger, Rebecca (Brent) Kress; 12 grandchildren: Brigitte, Matthew, Denise, Andrew, Joey, Samantha, Sophia, John, Aidan, Madelyn, Zane, and Katie; and sister Peggy (Steve) Reitz, brother Butch (Connie) Leininger, along, with several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Lois and brother Michael.