Leslie Malmgren
Leslie J. Malmgren, 87, former Florence school administrator, died Feb. 23, 2003, at Overland Park.
Born May 27, 1915, near Falun in Saline County, he was the son of the late Joseph and Selma (Hammer) Malmgren.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Bethany College, Lindsborg, in 1937, and the master's degree from Kansas State University.
He began teaching at Russell Springs and continued at Winona, Claflin, Page City, Bogue, Coolidge, Kipp, and Florence where he retired in 1978 after 41 years of dedicated service.
An Army veteran of World War II, he lettered in football at Behany College and was a sports fan, especially of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
He and Mary Etta Holsapple were married March 8, 1941, at Sharon Springs. She died May 5, 2002. The couple had four children, Richard Leslie, Jean Diana, Jerry Lee, and Mary Louise.
He was a member of Florence United Methodist Church, American Legion, KNEA, Marion County Retired Teachers, had served on the Florence Library Board, Carriage Manor Authority, and held numerous church and civic positions.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one brother, four sisters, one daughter, Jean Diana, and two grandsons, Morgan Johnson and Troy Malmgren.
Survivors include his sons, Richard and wife Mary Jane of Des Moines, Iowa, and Jerry and his wife Edna of Overland Park; daughter, Mary and husband Mike Johnson of Mound City; brother, Kenneth Malmgren of Harrisonville, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Florence United Methodist Church with burial in Hillcrest Cemetery.
