Earl Lawrence Leafstedt

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Earl “Lawrence” Leafstedt, 98, of Alcester, SD, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Hillcrest Healthcare Center in Hawarden, IA. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Big Springs Baptist Church in Alcester, SD. Visitation with the family present will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at Big Springs Cemetery.

Earl Lawrence Leafstedt was born April 3, 1928, to parents Earl Ruben and Ellen (Johnson) Leafstedt, attended by A. Hyden, on the family farm obtained by timber claim. When he was 14 days old, the large two-story farm home was totally destroyed by fire. Except for the temporary dwelling at that time, he lived on the same farm until retirement.

Lawrence was a life time member of Big Springs Baptist Church. His Christian heritage goes back to Peter Ring, the first pastor of Big Springs. Lawrence’s grandfather, Rudolph Leafstedt, married Peter Ring’s daughter, Selma. Lawrence’s love for the Lord led him to willingly and faithfully serve in many different capacities from usher, deacon, trustee, church treasurer, and many behind the scenes.

Lawrence attended Ring Country School in the middle of the section just north of their farm. Except for hitching a ride occasionally with the neighbor and a horse and wagon, he walked to school. His high school education was at Alcester High School. He drove a Chevy with wooden spoke wheels. If roads were bad, he drove on the banks of which were higher than the road. After graduation in 1946, he farmed with his dad.

He married Joyce Mortenson from Le Mars, IA, on August 3, 1956. Shortly thereafter, both of his parents were killed in a car accident, so he took over the farm operation. Due to illness, his wife passed away in 1984. Nine years later, he married Evelyn (Soodsma) Van Ginkel on February 7, 1992. They continued to farm, but operations there began to slow down with retirement in mind. His wife summed up these years when she penned this poem:

Farmer

Ambitious, dependent,

Choring, planting, reaping.

Struggles, trials, prayers, blessings,

Thanking, enjoying, aging

Tired, fulfilled

Retirement

They moved into Alcester, but once a farmer, always a farmer. His love for the land and all of God’s creation, including the landscape, crops, animals, and birds remained with him.

He chose to live life to the fullest. They enjoyed traveling, camping, and volunteer work after a tornado struck in Leota, MN, flood relief in the Watertown area, and home repair in the Delta area in Mississippi. They wintered in Texas for many years. He worked for Habitat for Humanity in the Rio Grande Valley. He was one of the first crews from Alamo Palms, his park, who built over 100 homes in the Reynosa, Mexico area. In his “spare” time, he loved to shoot pool with his buddies and participated in many tournaments with his team.

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” The time came to cease many activities and to part with many earthly possessions. They sold their house, had a household sale, and moved to the Village West apartments in Alcester. His faith remained steadfast as well as love for family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn; children, Joelle Frazer of Omaha Keith of Hudson, SD,; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; step-children, Val (Roger) Smith, Marilee (Keith) Faber, Larry (Minerva) Van Ginkel, Karen (Lyle) Lems; step-grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, niece and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Ellen Leafstedt; wife, Joyce Mortenson; sons-in-law, Clair Clark and Kirk D. Frazer, sisters, Mary Jane Hart and June (Dwight) Wilson; half-brother, Herb Johnson; and cousin, Lloyd Johnson.