Thomas Leisinger

Thomas Leisinger, age 83, of Hartford, formerly of Wentworth, passed away Wednesday, October 19,
2022, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Monday, October 24 th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic
Church with Father Bob Vinslauski will be the Celebrant. Visitation will be 2-4 PM on Sunday at Rustand-
Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 4 PM and a Rosary to follow. Visitation will continue on
Monday one hour prior to the service at the funeral chapel followed by procession to the church for
mass. Burial will be in St. Thomas Cemetery, Madison. Online guestbook is at
www.rustandweilandfuneral.com. The funeral will be livestreamed on the funeral chapel Facebook
page starting 10 minutes prior to mass.
Thomas Arthur Leisinger was born on a farm near Hartford, SD on October 31, 1938, to Arthur P. &
Veronica M. (Dahmen) Leisinger. Tom attended grade school in Hartford, Baltic, Humboldt & Montrose.
His first two years of high school were at Beadle High School, Madison. His family then moved to
Wentworth, and he graduated from Chester High School in 1956. He then attended SDSC for four years
and received his BS degree in Agriculture. Tom started working for the US Department of Agriculture as
an Inspector in 1961. On June 2, 1962, he married Carol Wold in Madison, SD. One June 5, 1962, he was
drafted into the US Army and became a veterinary specialist in Washington DC. He even had the
privilege of giving shots to President John Kennedy’s dogs. On June 5, 1964, he returned to the US
Department of Agriculture and went on to school in St. Paul, MN to become a bacteriologist. Tom
completed his thirty years of government service in 1991. After that, he started and continued to work
with his son digging graves, mowing lawns and cemeteries.
He served on many boards including Mayor of Wentworth, President of Lake County Ag Board, President
of SD Coin & Stamp Association, 4-H Leader for over 30 years, coached many years at 4-H and
independent softball teams, Secretary/Treasurer for Wentworth Fire Dept; Adjutant of American Legion,
Sioux Empire Fair Sheep Superintendent. During his several years as Mayor, he spearheaded the new
Sewer system, water system and the new Industrial Park Road.
Tom is survived by his daughter, Susan (Mark) Jamison of Marana, AZ; two sons, Jerry (Kristi) of Sioux
Falls and Mark (Lori) of Wentworth; seven grandchildren, Brittany, Lauren; Haley Leisinger, Tyler,
Dalton; Hunter Leisinger and Eric Jamison; three great-grandchildren, Berkley; Hadley Zingmark and
Ridge Thomas Leisinger; sister, Shirley (Dennis) Van Dam of Colman, SD; eight brothers, Frank of Trent,
SD, Richard, Kenneth; Kevin all of Sioux Falls, Bob of Highmore, SD, Dave of Hartford, SD and Doug of
Crooks, SD; brother-in-law, Charles Wold of Wentworth and sister-in-law, Roxy Wold of Chester.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol (2003); parents, Albert (1999); Veronica (2009); two
brothers, Jim (1963) and Joseph (2013); and his father; mother-in-law, Melvin; Lillian Wold.