LeRoy Tilbury

BACKUS - LeRoy Tilbury, age 101, of Backus, Minn., died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at his home near Backus.

LeRoy was born Feb. 23, 1908, to James and Josephine (Brody) Tilbury. He grew up and lived most of his life in the Portage Hills area. He worked as a logger and sawmill operator much of his life.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and playing the violin and harmonica.

LeRoy is survived by his sons, Arnold (Valorie), of Wagner, Okla., David (Fralayla), of Pine River, Calvin (Melody), of Backus, Russell (Susan), of Hackensack, Mark and Stanley, both of Backus, and Charlie (Joette), of Buffalo, Minn.; one daughter, Elverna Tilbury, of Laporte; 32 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Violette Anderson, of Pine River, and Erma Forseen, of Virginia, Minn.; and by one half-sister, Pearl (Robert) Walker, of Pequot Lakes.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at Church of the Nazarene, Backus. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Backus. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. The Kline Funeral Home of Pine River is in charge of the arrangements.