Roger Jerry Leonhardt

Pastor Roger Leonhardt, a longtime resident of Devils Lake, North Dakota died early Monday morning January 7th at Bethany Homes on University, surrounded by his loving family. Roger was 79 years old.

Roger Jerry Leonhardt was born on August 1st to Oscar and Louise (Hofsass) Leonhardt in Providence, Rhode Island, the youngest of two sons. Roger grew up and attended elementary school and high school just outside of Providence in Warwick, Rhode Island. After his high school graduation he began his studies to become a Pastor of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. In September 1957 he began his theological studies at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York, where he met his future wife, Sonja Vorbeck of New York City, NY. He continued his studies and graduated from Concordia Senior College, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the fall of 1961 Roger went to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri to begin the last 4 years of the 8 year Theological program. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1965.

On June 22, 1963 he married Sonja Vorbeck at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New York City. They moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada for Vicarage, working with a congregation of people who were deaf. During this internship year their son Tad was born in 1964. After his graduation from the Seminary, he was ordained on June 6, 1965 in his home Congregation, St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Providence, Rhode Island. A few days later, their daughter Lorinda was born in 1965.

Shortly after his Ordination, the family of four took off from Rhode Island for their first parish assignment in Devils Lake, North Dakota, where Roger was a Lutheran Pastor of 12 North Dakota and Western Minnesota preaching stations serving deaf congregations, and was Chaplain at the North Dakota School for the Deaf (NDSD) for the next 17 years. During this time Roger became the first, and at the time, the only certified interpreter for the deaf in the state of North Dakota. In 1981, Roger remained serving the students at NDSD, the deaf congregation in Devils Lake, and became the Pastor at a dual- parish congregation serving St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Devils Lake, ND, and Grace Lutheran Church in Lakota, ND until 2001 when Roger retired.

Roger was always a hands-on dad and grandpa. He loved spending time with his wife and family, traveling to the East Coast, and around North Dakota in their motorhome. His love for the Lord, his wife Sonja, and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren was always first and foremost in his life. This love and devotion was apparent to everyone who knew him. He touched the lives of countless children and adults of the deaf community throughout his ministry and throughout his life. Rev. Leonhardt celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod on June 6, 2015. He lived his life as a good and faithful servant.

Roger is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Sonja Leonhardt of Fargo, ND. His son and daughter-in-law, Tad and Kris Leonhardt of Sioux Falls, SD, and their six children and families; Anthony (Emmaleigh) Leonhardt, Canton, SD; Benjamin (Charlotte) Leonhardt and their children Charis & Gideon, Lincolnton, NC; Kassia Leonhardt & daughter Bailee, Sioux Falls, SD; and Tabetha, Zane and Eli Leonhardt, Sioux Falls, SD. Roger is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mitch and Lorinda Semanko, Fargo, ND, and their five children and families; Zachary Idland and daughter, McKynlea Kitsch, Fargo, ND; Alexandra (Kellen) Bubach and their daughter Masen, Ankeny, Iowa; Cassidy Semanko (Renier Salas) & daughter Blakely, Santa Ana, CA; Martha Semanko, River Forest, Illinois; and Sophie Semanko, Fargo, ND.

He is also survived by 2 sisters-in-law, Cindy Leonhardt, Vero Beach, Florida, and Marianne Vorbeck, Colts Neck, NJ, several nieces and nephews and their families.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Louise Leonhardt, his brother, Oscar Leonhardt, his mother and father-in-law, Karl and Martha Vorbeck, grandchildren, Karl Leonhardt and Stephanie Leonhardt, and great grandson, Luca Brooks Bubach.

The family of Rev. Roger Leonhardt would like to thank the nurses, CNA’s and the entire staff at Bethany Homes on University for their loving care of Roger. You are all greatly appreciated.