Leslie (Les) Joens of rural Eagle Butte, South Dakota went home to the Lord on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 following a courageous two-year battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully at his home. A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m. MT at the Landmark Hall in Eagle Butte.

Leslie Edward Joens was the third child of ten children born to parents Alvena (Blattner) and Glen Joens on February 27, 1945 in Mobridge, SD. He grew up on a farm northeast of Eagle Butte and attended the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School. While attending school Les started working for numerous farmers and ranchers in the area. After leaving school Les worked in Montana, Oregon, North Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. He also worked at various jobs in the Eagle Butte area, and later took a position at the Dewey County Highway Department where he worked for over nineteen years maintaining the roads in the southern portion of Dewey County, a job he took great pride in doing well.

On August 21, 1976 Les married Ethel Barsness at his parents' home in rural Eagle Butte. Les was a wonderful husband and a proud parent of his two children Erik and Karina. Les was a humble man who possessed a quick wit and an easy laugh. He modeled honesty and integrity in all aspects of his life. Les was known for his cooking and baking, especially for his bean soup, potato salad and cinnamon rolls. He enjoyed being a farmer, gardener, fisherman, card player, handyman and carpenter, and the buffalo that he raised in his later years were a highlight for him.

Left to mourn his loss are his wife Ethel, son Erik, daughter Karina and son-in-law Darren Mork; sisters Golda Galyen (Gilbert Diaz) and Gwen (Davis) Vogt; brothers Boyd (Coral) Joens, Ben (Henrietta) Joens, Ronnie (Judy) Joens, Kenny (Deb) Joens, Larry Joens (Rene Bourn), and Mick (Jenny) Joens; sisters and brothers-in-laws Kathy (Charles) Evenson, A. Eugene (Joni) Barsness, Ingvald (Sheila) Barsness, and Paul (Julie) Barsness; aunts Hazel Heffernan and Edna Strong, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Les was preceded in death by his parents, Alvena and Glen Joens; parents-in-laws, Edna and Albert Barsness; sister and brother-in-law LaVernne and Leo Gage, and brother-in-law Lennie Galyen. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, a niece, many aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family requests donations, in lieu flowers, to the New Hope Foundation in Mobridge or Countryside Hospice Support and Memory Center in Pierre.