Obituary of William Gordon Leslie

William Gordon Leslie, 96, of Hermantown, MN, formerly of Holland, NY, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2023, with family at his bedside. He was born on November 11, 1926, to Frank and Margaret Leslie in Highland Park, MI.

Bill left high school to join the Army Air Corps in 1945, near the end of World War II. Returning to finish his education, he met his future wife, Ruth Leedy. They were married on March 20, 1946. After graduating from General Motors Institute, Bill worked as a supervisor at General Motors in Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, and Buffalo, NY for 26 years. He then started his own landscaping business. In his later years, he spent countless hours watching CNBC to follow the ups and downs of the stock market.

Bill enjoyed family camping and fishing in his younger years, and continued golfing into his late 80’s, spending winters in Clermont, FL. He enjoyed travelling in the U.S. and Europe and taught his children the joy of discovering new places.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Cameron Leslie, and wife Ruth Jeanne Leslie. Bill is survived by daughter Janet (David) Thornton of Hermantown, MN, son William (Catherine) Leslie of South Wales, NY, grandchildren David (LeeAnn) Thornton, Jonathan (Jenny) Thornton, William Leslie, Paul (Desiree) Thornton, and Peter Thornton, and great-grandchildren Matthew, Jared, Grace, Sadie, Layla, and Casheon.

Many thanks to the caring staff at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living who cared for Bill over the last 5 years.

A private family service will be held on April 7, 2023.