Leroy F. Brooker, 87, of Tulare, SD, died Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. His funeral will be Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tulare United Church in Tulare, SD. Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery near Tulare, with military rites. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Leroy Franklin Brooker was born December 3, 1925 in Belmont Township, Spink County, SD to Franklin and Rose (Blume) Brooker. He attended country school through junior high until his family moved to Los Angeles, CA. After Leroy graduated from high school in Los Angeles, he moved back to South Dakota to begin farming. He served in the United States Army, during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1953. Leroy married Elsie Kopplin on November 10, 1953. They began their life together on the family farm, where they raised their three children.

Leroy enjoyed playing kittenball and cribbage, woodworking and carpentry. He spent many hours helping his son, Dave, with his racecar adventures. He served nineteen years on the Tulare Independent School Board and many years on the church board. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Elsie and their three children: Paula (Daryl) Ames, Peg Brooker and David (Becky) Brooker all of Tulare. He was also blessed with four grandsons: Jake and Dan Ames and Wyatt and Andy Brooker.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters and their husbands: Elenore (Harry) Throgmorton, Leona (Nick) Spathos; his sister-in-law and her husband Marjorie (Richmond) Noble and nephews: Steven Noble and Steven Spathos.