Leonard Roy Ludwig, 73, of Estelline, passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at First Reformed Church in Volga. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday at the Estelline Arena. Masks are encouraged to be worn when attending the services. Geise Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Leonard Roy Ludwig was born on November 21, 1946, in Estelline, SD, the son of William and Jane (VanDenbush) Ludwig. He grew up on the family farm near Dempster and attended school in Castlewood, graduating from high school in 1965. Following graduation, Lenny went to work in Brookings at the elevator. He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Darlene DeBoer, at Hamlin Reformed Church on June 30, 1967. The couple made their home in Brookings and shortly thereafter began Ludwig Concrete Construction. They were blessed with three daughters, Angie, Jenny and Becky. Lenny and Darlene worked many hours side by side building their business through their hard work and dedication. In 1996, the couple moved to an acreage outside of Bruce. In 2000, they retired from their business.  He continued to work with the business for several years. In 2017, Lenny and Darlene moved into Estelline.

Lenny's priorities in life were his faith, family, and hard work. Faith being foremost, Lenny was a longtime member of Hamlin Reformed Church, where he served as Deacon or Elder and also led youth group for many years. His faith in and love of God was instilled into his family as he led them by example. His family was blessed to have him serving in the baptisms of all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lenny adored his family, and they shared many family activities together. The family enjoyed some of Lenny's favorite hobbies which included, hunting, camping, boating, water-skiing, snow mobiling, restoring his old car. Lenny made sure each and every one of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren rode a horse. It was very important to Lenny that each of these activities were done as a family. Lenny would rarely be found without projects. His nature was to stay busy whether the task was for work, family, or pleasure. Lenny was somewhat of a quiet man, who always had a listening ear for his family and would always give them simple and straight forward advice. He was blessed with his family all living nearby and being very active in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren's lives. Never missing their sporting, school, and church events, he was always supporting them. They learned many valuable lessons through the years growing up with him. His greatest accomplishment in life was instilling in his family a great faith and love for the Lord. He showed his family how to live and love by example, especially by how he loved his wife and family and most of all the Lord.

Lenny is survived by his wife of 53 years, Darlene Ludwig, of Estelline; three daughters, Angie (Kevin) Warne, Becky (Chad) Saathoff and Jenny (Jim) Greene, all of Estelline; his grandchildren Emily (Caleb) Schaefer, Megan (Darin) Sinner, Sam Ludwig(special friend, Jakob Weinberg), Morgan Saathoff, Jordan Saathoff, Braxton Saathoff and Danelyn Greene; his great grandchildren, Cooper and Kimberlyn Schaefer, Sawyer and Carson Sinner; two sisters, Ruth Bartelson of Custer, SD and Leah Ludwig, of Rapid City, SD along with a host of extended relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents.