Leonard D. Kersten

BASILE- Leonard Kersten was born on October 23, 1926, in White River, South Dakota and died peacefully on March 8, 2026, at the Southwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jennings, Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Veoda Ardoin Kersten, parents, Jake Kersten and Christina Hendricks Kersten, two brothers, Hermann Jan Kersten, and Myron Jake Kersten and one sister, Edith Kersten Johnson. He is survived by one son, Stephen Derek Kersten and wife Beth, and one daughter, Constance Anne Kersten and spouse Sheree’.

He was raised on a farm in Percival, Iowa and graduated from Percival High School in 1944. He enlisted in the Army Air Force during WWII in September 1944 and was honorably discharged in December 1946. He served as a B-25 aircraft welder/maintenance specialist and finance clerk typist. He was especially sought out as a typist because few servicemen at that time could type.

Leonard met his beloved wife, Veoda, in Lake Charles, Louisiana while visiting his brother, Myron and they were married on February 28, 1947. He trained and worked in the flooring business and in 1951 they moved to Crowley, Louisiana to open Coastal Floor Covering, which he co-owned with Burton Mader and later with Mike Leleaux. Leonard was active in the American Legion Post 15, where he served as District Adjutant, Vice Commander, and District Commander and was a member of the Forty and Eight Society of the American Legion where he served as Grand Correspondent. In 2023, he was honored for 75 years of service and awarded a lifetime membership. He also served as a member of the American Legion Hospital Board in Crowley. He attended many flooring workshops, market in Dallas, completed an interior design course at LSU-Eunice, and took pride in his skills as a flooring salesman, installer, and interior designer. He retired in 1988, and moved to Basile, Louisiana, where he and Veoda built their dream home.

Leonard loved to travel and enjoyed yearly trips to Destin, Florida and traveled to most of the states with his family in their camper. He loved to barbecue every Sunday, camp, hunt, fish, garden, watch football (especially LSU games), and was an avid reader. Leonard earned a scholarship to college but gave it up to enlist during WWII. Because of this he was a great supporter of education and encouraged not only his children to go to college but encouraged and facilitated many young people to get an education during his lifetime.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Southwest Louisiana VA War Veterans Home in Jennings, Louisiana for his excellent care and for the care and respect they provide for all veterans who reside there. We also wish to thank Heart of Hospice for their care and kindness during his transition.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2026, beginning at 12:00 pm until time of services at 2:00 pm at Ardoin’s Funeral Home Chapel in Basile. Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Augustine Mausoleum with Father Keenan Brown officiating.

Family and friends may view this obituary and sign the guestbook at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com

Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Basile, 1210 South Ryan, (337)432-6726, is in charge of arrangements.