Leonard Alfred Bray passed away into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, suddenly at his home in Annandale, Minn., on April 21, 2025, at the age of 84. He was born June 6, 1940 in Shell Lake, Wisc., as the fifth child to Raymond Grant Bray and Olive Nelsina (Satter) Bray. He grew up on the family farm in Earl Township, Washburn, Wisc., with his eight other siblings. Marvin (Marion) Bray, Spooner, Wisc., Grant Bray, California, Vernon Bray, Minnesota, and Donna Mae Bray, Shell Lake, Wisc. He is preceded in death by Rosemary “Dolly” Bray (Bruner), Robert “Bob” Bray, Raymond “Bud” Bray, and Betty Bray (Collins).
He married B. Elaine (Hale) Bray, his cherished wife and best friend, June 25, 2000, and shared many great moments and memories together. He loved and served Jesus, serving Him with his servant’s heart, by always being willing to help others with his many gifts and talents, giving much of himself.
He had four children, Bruce Leonard Bray (Laurel), Rapid City, S.D., David Aaron Bray, Talihina, Okla., Mark Alfred Bray, Rockford, Ill., and Melissa Christine Bray-Iverslie (Peter) of New London, Minn. Step-children Randall Rokala, Cosmos, Minn., Marcella (Rokala) and Craig Hagen, Mesa Ariz., Peggy (Rokala) and Micheal Kinzler, Glencoe, Minn.
He also had 12 grandchildren who live all around the world, Sarah Marie Bray (Hall) Sandstone, Va., Aaron Mathew Bray, Frisco Texas, Ariana Marie Bray, New Jersey, Caleb Aaron Bray, New Hampshire, Luke Alfred Bray, Illinois, Joshua Mark Bray, Illinois, CPT, Theodore Walter Erickson, Stuttgart Germany, Bennett Leonard Erickson (Rebecca), Dassel, Minn., First Lt. Ethan William Erickson (Shaylese), Kapolei, Hawaii, Second Lt. First Lt. Isabella Christine Erickson, Minnetonka, Minn., and was preceded in death by grandsons Nathan Robert Bray and Jordan Q. Bray, and 10 step grandchildren.
His great-grandchildren are Dakota, Destinee, Jocilyn, Isaiah, Lilliana, Jaden, Miya, Gunnar, Xander, Jasmine, Emma, Walter, Hanzo, and William. He also had 27 step great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
He was an adventurous man who was a force to be reckoned with. He loved to hunt, fish, and shoot trap competitively. He started and owned Skins and Fins Taxidermy Shop. He invented “Thump Master” lures, which are guaranteed to catch northern pike, muskie, bass, and even walleye, which he passed on to his grandson Bennett. He could do any type of construction project, and work on any type of engine or motor. He would excel at any sport. He loved to play golf and played racquet ball on a competitive league, and trained bird hunting dogs. There really was not anything he could not do. He was a master mechanic for General Motors, then a foreman at Metro Transit.
He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. Viewing and services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday April 29, 2025, at The Lakes Community Church in Annandale, Minn. Viewing will be held one hour prior to the Funeral services. Interment will be held following services at Pleasant View Cemetery in Annandale, Minn. Refreshments will be held after the cemetery service at the church.