Leslie I. Tuttle, resident of Freeland, died on May 20, 2010 at the age of 89, at the Home Place Care Center in Oak Harbor.

Born to John and Edith Tuttle in International Falls, Minn., on May 11, 1921, the family later moved to southeast South Dakota (Geddes/Mitchell).

Leslie served in the Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945 as a tech sergeant with the 210-315th troop carrier squadron, flying missions in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, central Europe and in Africa, and earning many commendations during his service to his country.

After his honorable discharge from the service at the end of World War II, Leslie returned to South Dakota to farm with his older brother until 1947. He then traveled to Alaska and started a contracting business. Leslie specialized in masonry work for 28 years in the Anchorage and Kenai areas.

Leslie married Twila Provo/Walker in 1962. They moved from Alaska to Whidbey Island in 1975, where Leslie continued with his masonry business. In 1988 he retired and pursued his hobbies of boating and gardening.

He is survived by wife Twila; son Mark, daughter-in-law Ann and grandchildren Mason and Morgan; sisters Carol Moon and family, Anchorage, Alaska; Dorothy Wilson/Reynold and family, Brownwood, Texas; brother John Tuttle, wife Maryellen and family, Wickenburg, Ark.; many nieces and nephews; stepchildren Daryl Walker, Robert Walker, Howard Walker and Deborah Walker Coon; sister-in-law Wilma Tuttle Mitchell, South Dakota.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Edith Tuttle; brothers George Tuttle and wife Garnet; Melvin Tuttle; Lyle Tuttle; Roy Tuttle; Harold Tuttle and wife Loretta; Stanley Tuttle; Robert Tuttle; Richard Tuttle; sister Claryce Tuttle; Heeren and husband Alvin.

Interment will be in Geddes, S.D.

Leslie, or “Tut” as many called him, enjoyed all that life has to offer, loved hard work, playing cribbage, and lending a neighbor a hand. Tut will certainly be missed by all.

Friends and family may also view the online obituary, sign and leave messages at www.visserfuneralhome.com.