Leon J. Salathe, 69, of Belvidere, died Sunday, June 12, 2011 in O.S.F. St. Anthony Medical Center following a sudden illness. He was born December 27, 1941 in Harrold, South Dakota; the son of Jacob and Pearl (Rilling) Salathe. Leon married Mildred M. Johnson in Fort Pierre, South Dakota on December 7, 1963. He was a rancher in Nebraska and South Dakota before moving to Belvidere. He then worked for Nissan in Marengo as a maintenance technician. Leon is survived by his wife, Mildred, of Belvidere; a daughter, Tammy Fouks, of Loves Park, Illinois; a son, Tracy Salathe, Belvidere; four grandchildren, Amanda Fouks, Ashley Fouks, Makayla Hall, and Daimen Salathe; a great grandson, Reyce Kempke; three sisters, Flossie Albright; Joan Lappe; Evelyn Miller; a brother; Raymond Salathe; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Phyllis Ferris and three brothers, Kenneth, Orville and Jesse Salathe.