Leonard Everet "Lenny" Haivala, died Sunday, December 16, 2007, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Lenny was born May 23, 1938, at Buffalo, SD, to Gus and Muriel (Norton) Haivala. He attended school in Buffalo and graduated from Buffalo High School. He was baptized and confirmed in Buffalo.

He married Marlene Mackey, who was also from Buffalo, on August 10, 1958.

In the early years, Lenny drove truck and ranched in Harding County. In the later years, he sold vehicles for Parkway Ford in Dickinson, ND, and Johnson Ford in Spearfish, SD and drove truck for Roth Construction and Trimac Transportation out of Rapid City. His real love was ranching and in 1985, Lenny and Marlene purchased their own ranch in Piedmont, SD. Lenny loved spending time with his family, his grandchildren, or just visiting with old or new friends.

Survivors include his wife, Marlene Haivala, Piedmont, SD; two sons, Bret (Carol) Haivala, Rapid City, and Bart (Beth) Haivala, Piedmont, SD; two grandchildren, Heidi and Nickolas Haivala, Piedmont; brothers, Kenny Haivala, Wichita, KS, Harry (Irene) Haivala, Belle Fourche, John (Judy) Haivala, Spearfish, Jim Haivala, Spearfish, and Gene (Dianne) Haivala, Buffalo, SD; sisters, Mona (Marv) Nussbaum, Mesa, AZ, and Leone (Dick) Bilmier, Mesa, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Paul Haivala.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 21, 2007, at the Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont with Pastor Steve Trefz and Pastor Hans Sacrison officiating.

Burial will follow at the Piedmont Cemetery.