Leonard Ambrose Borlaug was born on March 18, 1922, the son of Reverend Arthur Borlaug (Luther Class of 1914) and Alvhild (Jordhoy) Borlaug in Edmonton Alberta, Canada, where his father served as a Lutheran pastor. He was the second oldest of five children.
In 1926 the family returned to the United States where his father served a parish in Holbrooke, Neb.
In 1929 the family moved to Carpio, N.D. They moved again to Driscoll, N.D., where Leonard would graduate from High School. He then attended Dickenson State Teacher College before teaching in rural school. In August 1942, Leonard enlisted in the Army and served in the European theatre for the remainder of WWII.
Upon his return from active military service in 1945, Leonard attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and graduated in 1948. He taught music, history, and English in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
On June 17, 1950, Leonard was united in marriage to Verlyce Yvonne Swenson. Their union was blessed with three children. In 1954 he received his master’s in music from the University of Idaho.
Leonard and Verlyce considered the building of a geodesic dome in Centuria, Wis., with the help of their children, as one of their greatest adventures. They lived there from 1983 to 2001 when they moved to Springfield, Minn.
In 2005, Verlyce completed her journey here on earth. Shortly thereafter he moved to live with his daughter and son-in-law. Together they all moved to Brooklyn Park, Minn., before they completed and moved into their retirement home in Merrifield, Minn., in 2015.
In Jan. 2022, he moved into assisted living at Edgewood Vista in Brainerd, Minn., where he enjoyed the staff and meeting new friends.
On March 14, 2022, Leonard Ambrose Borlaug passed at the age of 99 years, 11 months, and 26 days.
He is survived by three children, John Borlaug (Julie) of Monticello, Minn.; Solvejg Seamon (Carl) of Merrifield, Minn.., and Kurt Borlaug (Beth) of Columbus, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Matthew Seamon (Kim), Bonnie Grinstad (David), Aaron Borlaug (Elizabeth), Erik Borlaug (Samantha), Amy Cox (Jordan), Ruth Eilts, Jennifer Eilts; fourteen great-grandchildren, Sofia, Caden, Adelynn, Owen, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Malachi, Isaiah, Timothy, Jonah, Asher, Abigail, Hannah, Elliot; one sister Connie Cleveland (Herbert) of Rapid City, S.D.; numerous nieces and Nephews.
He preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Verlyce, and three brothers: Oliver, Paul, and Donald Borlaug ‘52. May God Bless his memory for all of us.
A Celebration of Leonard’s Life was held March 19, 2022, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Graveside Service and Military Honors were held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Brainerd.