Jan. 1, 1926 – Feb. 14, 2013
Leslie Orlin Troite, 87, of Sweet Home died Feb. 14, 2013.
He was born Jan. 1, 1926 in Ryder, N.D. to Olaf Thomas and Hilda (Lindstrom) Troite.
He served as a Seaman 2 in the United States Navy from 1946 until he was honorably discharged in 1948.
Mr. Troite came to Sweet Home in 1959 to work on the railroad. He lived near Culbertson, Mont. when he was first married and a son, Gary, was born.
He worked with Burlington Northern and Southern Pacific railroads from 1959 to 1981. He was a member of Sweet Home Evangelical Church.
Mr. Troite enjoyed woodworking, traveling, playing guitar and singing. He loved his sweetheart, Betty, spending time with friends and family and old-time western music. In the early 1950s he sang on Fay Crush radio station in Montana.
He is survived by his wife Betty; son Gary and daughter-in-law Cheryl; daughter Linda; five grandchildren; nine stepchildren and their spouses; five grandchildren; 28 step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; 10 step-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Harold Peterson of Aberdeen, S.D.; sisters Olga Erickson of Coos Bay and Stella Belik of Stanley, N.D.; and sisters-in-law Marcella Mikkleson and Joanne Neether.
Mr. Troite was preceded in death by his wife, Caroline; sisters Clarinda, Selma and Emma; brother Arnold; and great-grandson Nicholas.
Funeral services were held Feb. 19 at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, followed by a graveside committal with military honors at Gilliland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Sweet Home Evangelical Church.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.