Leo John Brech was born April 3, 1930, to Peter and Katherine (Bracha) Brech, at Milltown, SD.   He grew up and attended school at Parkston and Mitchell.  He married Vernetta Hansen on April 20, 1951 in Sioux Falls. In 1957 he moved to the Pacific Northwest and worked for Weyerhaeuser Co. for thirty-seven years.  Following retirement he moved back to Mitchell, SD.  Leo was an outdoor and nature person, enjoying fishing in the ocean, rivers or lakes, hunting, turtle trapping, clam and oyster digging.  He was an avid gardener.  He was a giving person and had a good sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with his Brech family and his Royalty family.

He is survived by three sons:  Ronald Leo Brech and wife Masami,  Kailua, Hawaii, Roger Brech, Longview, WA and Kemo Brech, Kelso, WA; one daughter, Darla Brech-Hersley and husband, Kurt, Longview, WA; six grandchildren, three great grandchildren; a sister, Betty Boone, Mitchell, SD; his special love, Eva Royalty, Mitchell, SD, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vernetta (March 13,1990); a son Rick Brech, a daughter, Wanda Brech; three brothers: Melvin Brech, Doyl Brech and  August “Gus” Brech; three sisters: Gladys Brech, Leona Bartling, Elsie LaGuardia and his parents.