Leslie Mckay

Leslie McKay, 76, Jamestown, ND, died Thursday, December 30, 2010 at Medcenter One, Bismarck, ND.

Leslie Eugene McKay was born December 22, 1934 in What Cheer, Iowa, the son of Delmar and Irene (Beasley) McKay. He attended school at Gibson, Iowa. He served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois and Korea. After returning from his service in the Korean War, Les graduated from William Penn College in 1962 and received his Master's Degree from the University of Northwest Missouri State at Maryville, MO in 1968. Les taught school at Southeast Polk Elementary School in Runnells, Iowa and later did construction work in Bloomfield, Iowa, where, in 1972, he met his future bride, Ruth Bartkowski. Les and Ruth were married in 1973 in Lancaster, MO and moved to Garner, Iowa where he worked for Holland Construction. In 1985, they moved to North Dakota and moved to Jamestown in 1986. Les began working as a CNA at the North Dakota State Hospital in 1986 and later became a vocational evaluator, retiring in 2002.

Les was a great cook and loved to travel and spend time with his children and grandchildren. His family enjoyed hearing stories of his youth and travels. He'd been almost around the entire world in his 76 years.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth McKay, Jamestown, ND; one son, Carl (Lynn) Walters, Manly, Iowa; 2 daughters: Jonell (Sean) Farrelly, Havertown, PA; Emily (Ted) Cash, Bismarck, ND; 2 brothers: LeRoy (Janet) McKay, Summerfield, FL; Delmar (Rachel) McKay, Burlington, IA; one sister-in-law, Helen McKay, Las Vegas, NV and 6 grandchildren: Amanda and Melissa Walters; Deirdre, Sinead and Senan Farrelly and Flynn Cash.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Larry McKay and a son, Brian McKay.

Memorials may be directed to St. James Basilica or the James River Humane Society

Funeral - 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 6, 2011 at St. James Basilica, Jamestown, ND

Interment - 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 7, 2011North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND