Thief River Falls – Leslie “Les” Snetting, 97, of Thief River Falls, wore out his last day and went home to God’s kingdom on Thursday, November 14, 2024, with his loving daughter, Cheryl, by his side.
Leslie Snetting was born August 22,1927, the last of four children, on the family farm south of Thief River Falls, to Hilda and Olaf Snetting. He attended a one room schoolhouse and later attended Lincoln High School, graduating in 1945. As a child, Leslie attended St. Pauli Lutheran Church and throughout his life would proudly recite the 23rd Psalm in its entirety, which he had memorized for confirmation. He later joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.
Leslie contracted rheumatic fever when he was five years old and was not expected to live. He did recover but had “spells” as his family called them and would feel faint with over exertion.
Leslie learned to work from at young age on the family farm. The Snettings milked cows, raised livestock and crops. Leslie tells of clearing fields, planting, harvesting and threshing grain, with horse teams. His father embraced farm machinery early on, and Leslie was an avid operator of any machinery he used.
With World War II, his brothers left for war. Leslie enlisted, but was turned down for health reasons, learning his heart was damaged from his previous illness at five years old. He stayed behind on the family farm to work, later working at Hormel meat packing in Grand Forks, becoming the manager of the pork loin line. Leslie went on to be a traveling salesman for American Republic Insurance, becoming a regional supervisor. He began saving money with the goal of starting his own business in the future.
Leslie would return to Thief River Falls and the family farm when not selling insurance. He met Marlene Langevin who was working at a popcorn wagon in town. They began dating and were wed March 21, 1954. Their family later grew with the births of their two daughters, Rebecca and Cheryl.
Leslie purchased a mobile home for him and his bride but could not find a place to put it in town, so the mobile home was moved onto the family farm. That’s when Leslie knew what his business venture would be.
In 1955 Leslie partnered with Dan Helle, bought property located along the Thief River, by Eight Street in Thief River Falls and founded Northwestern Trailer Court and Sales. After the mobile home park was built Leslie moved the family’s mobile home off the family farm next to his new business office.
The business boomed and in 1963 another mobile home park was built off Highway 1 West in Thief River Falls. In 1967 another mobile home park was built in Warren. The partnership dissolved in 1970. Leslie retained the company name, Northwestern Homes and Northwestern Trailer Court, the right to sell mobile homes, and the mobile park on the West side of Thief River Falls. The mobile home sales were moved to Highway 1 West and his family moved to the south side of town.
Leslie added to his portfolio of mobile parks by expanding Northwestern Trailer Court in 1970 and again in 2015, purchasing Greendale Manor in 1974, and in 1997, Challenger Park was built on the south edge of Thief River Falls.
Sales of mobile homes continued to grow with Leslie selling many brands over the years. Leslie won many sales and service awards along with enjoying dealer trips abroad. Along with the sales, installations and transportation were also done by Northwestern Homes. At the office he answered phone calls with, “Snetting speaking,” and ended the calls with “you bet.” At closing time he would announce to his staff, “Well, we wore out another day, it’s time to go home.” Leslie loved his job and truly enjoyed his housing customers, park residents, staff and contractors. He continued to come into the office until 2020 at the age of 93, when his wife developed cancer and the Covid pandemic was rampant. Leslie did not return to his office after that, but continued as consultant until the business was closed 2022. During the 67 years of operation just over 2700 homes were sold and 243 mobile home lots were managed through Leslie’s company. Leslie has been called the grandfather of the mobile home industry in Minnesota, an icon and a pillar of the community by other people by simply doing a job he loved.
Leslie also loved his family, spending many happy times at his cabin at Lake of the Woods and his brother’s cabin. Later in life he spent time during the winter at his condo near Destin, Florida. He enjoyed time with his wife, daughters, his three grandchildren and extended family, hunting, boating, fishing, water skiing, snowmobiling, the family horses and pets and taking trips.
Leslie lived a good, long life, was loved and will be missed. “You bet.”
Survivors include daughters, Rebecca (Mickey) Moe of Eysian, Cheryl (Pat Andersen) Snetting of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Benjamin (Anna) Moe of Minneapolis, Beth (David) Meissner of Plymouth, Tyler (Heather) Snetting of Birmingham, AL; great-grandchildren, Isabelle, Jonah and Adalyn; and nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlene Snetting; brothers, Omer (Irene) Snetting, Ernie (Ruth) Snetting; and sister. Myrtle (Victor) Moen.
Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the service to celebrate Leslie’s life at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Rev. LeRoy Flickinger will officiate. A light lunch will follow. The family will proceed to Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, for the burial.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.
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