Leonard Ray Yoder

Leonard Ray Yoder, 84, of the Yoder community near Hutchinson, Kansas, passed away on March 10, 2026. Born on May 22, 1941, in Hutchinson to Rufus and Wilma (Miller) Yoder, he grew up on the family farm near Yoder. After graduating from Central Christian High School, he served as an orderly in 1-W Service at a hospital in Evanston, Illinois, where he married Marilyn Stutzman. The couple lived in Evanston until completing his service, then returned to the Yoder area. Leonard worked at Central State Bank in Hutchinson before transitioning to full-time farming.

He found great joy in fishing, flying, buying and selling cars, singing, and serving as a vendor at the Kansas State Fair, where his warm personality meant he never met a stranger. From childhood onward, Leonard regularly traveled to Sarasota, Florida, to fish with his grandparents, parents, daughters, grandchildren, and many friends. A man of deep faith, he attended Maranatha Church in Hutchinson and held membership at Yoder Mennonite Church and Bethel Mennonite Church in Sarasota.

Leonard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marilyn; daughters Sheila (Jonathan) Baer and Dedra (Steve) Sawatzky; brother Willard “Bill” (Dora) Yoder; sister Jane Zongker; grandchildren Jesse (Kaedi) Baer, Anneliese (Caleb Beachy) Baer, Katie Baer, Paul Sawatzky, Samuel (Hannah) Sawatzky, and Grace (Scott) Schmidt; great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Barrett, and Blake Sawatzky and Joel Baer; and his 100-year-old uncle, Calvin Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Emma June Yoder and Mary K. Yoder, and brother-in-law Phillip Zongker.

His life was marked by kindness, hospitality, and a deep faith in Christ. His family finds comfort knowing he is now at peace with his Savior.