Leland Niles

Leland “Lee” E. Niles, 85, of Pillager, MN died on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the VA Healthcare System in St. Cloud, MN. Services for Lee will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 2:00PM at Merrifield Community Church of the Nazarene in Merrifield, MN with visitation one hour prior to services at the church. Interment at Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.

Lee was born on October 18, 1931 in Merrifield, MN to Leon and Evelyn (Berg) Niles. He attended Brainerd High School before serving in the United States Navy from 1952-1955. After he was discharged from the Navy, Lee returned to Merrifield and married Fae Berry on June 2, 1956 at First Presbyterian Church in Brainerd, MN. Lee was a welder at Scorpion Snowmobiling in Crosby, MN and also as a welder for Totem Dock in Pequot Lakes, MN. Lee then worked for Crow Wing Recycling. He and Fae moved to Pillager in 1983. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, woodworking, and just tinkering.

Lee will be sadly missed by his wife, Fae; children, Colleen (Darrel) Johnson of Brainerd, MN, Terry (Fay) Niles of Brainerd, MN, Steven Niles of Pillager, MN, and Joel (Leann Niemala) Niles of Pillager, MN; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and siblings, Benny Niles of Pillager, MN, Harley (Judy) Niles of Merrifield, MN, and Cheryl Mueller of Merrifield, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Evelyn; and brother, Jerry. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.