Leslie H. Harder

Leslie Henry Harder, age 93, of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, surrounded by his wife and 7 children.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. A private family burial will take place at the Mountain Lake City Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Leslie was born on his family’s farm southwest of Mountain Lake. He was the youngest of three children born to Henry and Helen Harder. Growing up in a rural community, Leslie attended a local one-room grammar school before graduating from Mountain Lake High School in 1951, where he was an active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Following graduation, he dedicated himself to the land, farming alongside his father. He was Cottonwood County’s Young Farmer of the Year in 1965. He started his farming career with horses and finished with four-wheel drive tractors. He began partnering with his dad and finished with his sons.

At the age of 17, Leslie met the love of his life, Gladys Baerg, at the youth group. The high school sweethearts were married at the First Mennonite Church in May of 1953, beginning a beautiful partnership that spanned over seven decades. Grounded deeply in their faith in Christ, Leslie and Gladys spent nearly their entire lives giving back to the community, volunteering with the church youth group and other organizations, serving well into their 70s.

Leslie and Gladys established their home on the family farm, where they raised an active family. They became parents to Rosalie, Perry, Eileen, Linda and the triplets: Duane, Donna, and Dianne. Together, Leslie and Gladys worked tirelessly to raise their seven children, instilling in them a powerful sense of teamwork, and a strong work ethic. But most importantly, they taught their children and grandchildren to love the Lord. In addition, the family learned to love farming, riding horse, water skiing, and camping.

Leslie possessed a lifelong passion for travel and adventure. With a large family to provide for, he took great pride in figuring out how to orchestrate grand adventures on a tight budget. Together, the family traveled across Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Alaska. As empty nesters, Leslie and Gladys continued to travel the world, pairing their love for exploration with a heart for service through numerous international mission trips. Today, Leslie’s extraordinary legacy lives on through a family that has grown to 105 members strong.

Leslie is survived by his beloved wife, Gladys; his seven children and their spouses: Rosalie and Norman Dick, Perry and Sharon Harder, Eileen and Steve Thiessen, Linda and Curt Hofer, Duane and Belle Harder, Donna and John Holmes, and Dianne and Mark Bristol; 23 grandchildren and spouses; and 49 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Helen Harder, and his sisters, Frances (Ervin) Loewen and Gladys E. (Leo) Harder.