Funeral services for Les Tufte, 82, of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Shane Koepke will officiate. Interment will be at East Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Leslie “Les” Tufte passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at his home in Albert Lea.

Les was born Oct. 21, 1937, to parents Harry and Pearl (Hyland) Tufte in Albert Lea. He grew up on a farm in Hayward until he was 10 years old, and then moved to Albert Lea. He was a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church and attended Albert Lea High School. He was a brick layer and started when he was 16 years old.

On Sept. 17, 1960, Les was united in marriage to Mary Knox at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin. Together they raised four children: Pamela, Mark, Lori and Peggy. He built their home in Albert Lea and enjoyed a career of building houses and selling them.

Les belonged to the Eagles, Moose and Brick Layers Union and enjoyed grabbing a beer with his friends. His hobbies included gardening, hunting and fishing. Les loved going on camping trips, attending auctions and playing games. He was very social and could go anywhere and always find someone he knew and if he didn’t, he would by the time he left. He enjoyed family gatherings and spending time with his family, affectionately teasing them.

Les will be dearly missed by his wife, Mary Tufte; children Pamela (Greg) Henderson, Mark (Rhonda) Tufte, Lori (Craig) Hanson and Peggy (Cary) Williamson; grandchildren Matthew (Emily) Tufte, Adam (Haely Stone) Sharpsteen, Justin (Katelyn) Tufte, Daniel (Becca) Sharpsteen, Zackary (Ashley Schroeder) Williamson, Dalton Hanson, Heidi Tufte, Courtney (Tyler Thumma) Williamson, Katie Hanson, Alison Hanson, Jessica (Charlie) Whitmore and Joe Henderson; several great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Sharon Wagner and Gayle Poland; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Les was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Pearl; father and mother in-law Donald and Margaret Knox; brother, Raymond (Luella) Tufte; sisters Harriet Tufte and Beverly (Clarence Jr.) Nasby; son-in-law, Rick Sharpsteen; and brother-in-law, Don Wagner.