Leonard Fred Boeker age 97, of Fountain Hills, AZ, formerly of Mitchell, died June 16, 2015 at Fountain Hills, AZ. Celebration of Life services will be 11:00 AM Friday, July 31, 2015 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in Serviceman's Memorial Cemetery with military rites. Leonard was born January 6, 1918 to Fred Ernst and Ella (Goddicksen) Boeker in rural Douglas County, SD. Leonard was raised on a family farm in southwest Davison County and attended school at Baker 41. Graduating from the 8th grade and being the oldest child, Leonard worked on the family farm and for his uncle August Boeker. Leonard served in the US Army during World War II as a Telephone and Telegraph Lineman and was stationed in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Corsica and France. He was attached to the 12th Air Force, 322nd Air Service Group, 1059th Signal Corps. Leonard earned seven battle stars for his participation in various campaigns. He was a part of a small advanced group that, on the fourth day of the Salerno, Italy invasion, established the first Allied airfield in Continental Europe. Returning from the war he met and married LuEtta Storm of rural Armour, SD and returned to farming in Davison County. In 1957, Leonard helped establish the Aurora Co-op service center in Stickney, SD and served as a board member. He stepped down from the board and was selected to be the Aurora Co-op's first manager. In 1960, Leonard was hired by the Farmers Union Central Exchange (CENEX) as a Field Representative for the entire state of South Dakota. Leonard was then promoted to a management position with the CENEX home office and the family moved to Woodbury, MN in 1966. He later returned to a Field Representative position in southwest Minnesota. Leonard and LuEtta retired in Montevideo, MN in 1981 and moved back to Mitchell, SD in 1994. During his retirement in Mitchell, Leonard served as a volunteer for several organization including the Dakota Discovery Museum, Avera Queen of Peace Hospital and the Mitchell Police Department's Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Grateful for sharing his life are his wife LuEtta Boeker of Fountain Hills, AZ; two children Thomas Boeker of Lake Oswego, OR and Merry Silbaugh of Fountain Hills, AZ; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Leonard, the oldest child, was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings Verna, Erv, Harold, Lola Mae and Herbert. Condolences may be sent to: LuEtta Boeker, 15950 East El Lago Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the American Red Cross.