Leslie (Goody) Goodwin, CMSGT, USAF, Ret.
May 16, 1942 - July 11, 2016

Leslie Goodwin, age 74, of McIntosh, MN, passed away peacefully following a brief illness on Monday, July 11th, at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston, MN. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 16th at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in McIntosh with Rev. Gordon Syverson officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 15th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the McIntosh Community Center in McIntosh, and there will also be reviewal for one hour before the funeral at the church on Saturday morning. Interment will be at Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in McIntosh. The Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home serving McIntosh is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to carlinhoialmen.com.

Leslie O. Goodwin was born May 16, 1942 in Bagley, MN, to parents John L. “Les” and Mildred A. (Knutson) Goodwin. He was raised in McIntosh, MN.

Les enlisted in the United States Air Force on November 14, 1960, had basic training at Lackland AFB, TX, and then trained in the fuels specialty. He spent the three years following basic training at Loring AFB, ME and then transferred to Goose Bay, Labrador. On December 12, 1964, Les married Mary C. Beaton of Prince Edward Island, Canada. In 1965, they moved to MacDill AFB, FL, where they spent the next five years before heading to West Germany. From 1970 to 1976, Les spent time at HQ USAFE, Lindsay Air Station, and Ramstein Air Base and then transferred to Nellis AFB, NV in 1976. Les was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) in 1980 and returned to Germany (Rhein Main Air Base) where he stayed until his retirement on November 1, 1993. Les retired as the oldest and highest ranking CMSgt in the Air Force with 13 years time in grade. He was the last CMSgt to retire with 33 years (the high year of tenure for Chiefs was changed to 30 years in 1993). Les was currently the Veterans Service Officer for Polk County, having served in this position since August, 1999.

Among his many accomplishments in the Air Force, Les was awarded six Meritorious Service Medals, one Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Silver and four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Les spent his time in the service in the fuels specialty, and was instrumental in developing the aerial bulk fuel delivery system for transporting jet fuel in rubber tanks within C-130 and C-141 cargo aircraft. This was used extensively throughout Vietnam. He was selected as the Outstanding Fuels Superintendent of the Year for the Military Airlift Command (MAC) in 1979, 1980, and 1982, and for the United States Air Force in 1982, receiving the award at the Pentagon from then Secretary of the Air Force, Mr. Vernon Orr. Les also met with and received General Colin Powell’s personal congratulations for superb fuel support during the 1990 Persian Gulf War when Rhein Main Air Base issued over one million gallons of jet fuel per day without incident.

Les enjoyed golfing, loved his family, friends and co-workers, and especially watching his two grandsons as they grew. He took pride in his cooking and canning, often sharing with his sisters and co-workers. He was an avid reader - reading about two fiction novels a week, and he enjoyed listening to country music while reading. He was a world class teaser, thrived on staying busy and helping Polk County veterans, mowing and making his lawn look like a golf course, and bugging his sisters.

On Monday, July 11, 2016, Les Goodwin passed away at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston after a brief illness. He was 74 years of age.

Les is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary; his daughter Robin (Joey) and his son Todd (Jessica) of McIntosh; two grandsons, Joshua Andres of Bozeman, MT, and Remy Goodwin of McIntosh; and his special pet cat, Macy. He is further survived by five sisters, Patti Benson, Lorene (Todd) Tranby, and Judy (David) Hagen all of McIntosh, and Marlys (Marsall) Weibye and Carol Carver of Hillsboro, ND. Many special nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Millie Keller; his step-father, Richard Keller; his father, Les Goodwin; and his brothers-in-law, Richard Benson and Howard Carver.

Blessed be his memory
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