Edward Leu passed away peacefully on October 17, 2019, a few days before his 91st birthday. Ed was a resident of Touchmark in Helena Montana but spent most of his adult life in East Helena and Clancy.
Ed was born to Hilda and Herman Leu in Helena Montana on October 20,1928. He was raised on the family ranch above the Travis Creek school and attended this school through the 8th grade. He was taught to work early in life, helping to make ends meet by cutting firewood, milking cows, and delivering these essentials to customers in his model A Ford truck. Ed was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt elk in the area. He was able to bag an elk every year he hunted and had his fair share of 8 pointers.
Ed joined the Army in 1951 and was immediately deployed to Korea to serve his country. Upon discharge, Ed came back home and married his love, Ruth DeBree, and started his family.
Ed began his trade of meat cutting at Bach and Calahans market in Helena, and became an excellent meat cutter who also had an entrepreneurial spirit. After working at Safeway, Ed purchased and operated Tower Meats, and Helena Avenue Meats. After selling these businesses, Ed ended his work career at the Federal Reserve Bank. Not content sitting idle, during retirement, he delivered post and poles around the state for Marks-Miller Post and Pole.
A longtime member of Clancy United Methodist Church he had great pride in mowing the lawn, preparing the Sunday morning coffee, and peeling potatoes for pasty days.
Ed had a love for Ford trucks, automobiles and a passion to buy them often and trade up to something different. He had good friends at the dealership!
He loved to travel with his Clancy friends, and had many wonderful trips pulling his camper to such places as Hungry Horse, Alaska, and Arizona. On a day to day basis, he loved to have coffee with friends, shoot the bull, and had a passion for playing card games of any kind. Ed and Ruth loved to host Sunday dinners with family and enjoyed many gatherings of family and friends at the schoolhouse in Travis Creek, and the family cabin.
Ed and Ruth’s marriage of 66 years brought them many blessings. Born to them were daughters Valerie, (Chuck Lane), Debbie, (Gary Marks), Shelly, (Joe Anderson) and son, Mitchell, (Kitty Leu). Through these unions, are 11 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 24th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home. Memorials in Ed’s name may be made to VFW Post 10010, P.O. Box 87 East Helena, MT 59635.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:30 a.m.
Thursday October 24, 2019
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Funeral Service
Thursday October 24, 2019
Anderson Steveneon Wilke Fuenral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:30 a.m.
Thursday October 24, 2019
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Funeral Service
Thursday October 24, 2019
Anderson Steveneon Wilke Fuenral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
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Patti Russ says
Ruth, Debbie, Shelly, Valerie, Mitchell, and all of your beautiful families. We were saddened to hear of Ed’s passing. We always enjoyed spending time with him at family gatherings and at 4th of July festivities at the cabin. He was a truly wonderful person and he lived a life of love and joy. He will be missed. You all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Marilyn I Buck says
We are so sorry for your loss. Ed was such a very sweet man and we loved seeing him in church. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Take care and God bless.
Randy and Marilyn Buck
Mary Flesher
Kelli Thorbergson Kaufman says
Debbie and family, It is always so hard to lose a parent, keeping you in may thoughts and prayers. Kelli
Janet Speirer says
Ed and Ruth have been good friends within our church family. Ed will be missed. My sympathy to his entire family and especially yo Debbie. Thoughts and prayers .
Vickie Miller says
So sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Eddie was a great man and always enjoyed seeing and chatting with him. Love to all, Roy and Vickie Miller
Corky Hull says
So sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. He was a super dude, taught me how to buy meat and save on specials. He will be missed. Regards to his great family. R.I.P. Ed
Corky Hull says
So sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. He was a super dude, taught me how to buy meat and save on specials. He will be missed. Regards to his great family. R.I.P.
Corky Hull says
So sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. He was a super guy, taught me how to buy meat and save on specials. Regards to his great family. R.I.P.
Terri Kunz says
My respect and love for Ed is part if my heart. His welcoming smile at church, breakfasts and talks about his love of family are so memorable to me. He will ne missed.
Pete Senf says
My condolences on your loss, I always enjoyed seeing the Leu family when we would spend time at the cabin.
Susan D. DeBree says
Dear Ruth, Valerie, Debbie and Shelly, My sincere sympathy in the loss of your loved family member. It is another great loss in our family. I will always remember his friendly manner, his humor and his love for my cousin Ruth. We had some good times in earlier years at picnics and parties at the Travis Creek school. It later years, we ended up camping at Hungry Horse every year. Up there I remember feeling safe with Ed packing his gun on his hip while we all picked berries. I am thankful that they welcomed me to their group. In later years, Ed continued to be a leader and help the community by helping make pasties with the rest of the family and members of The Clancy United Methodist Church. He will be missed in our family and always remembered. Rest in peace, Ed.
Phyllis Cottle says
To Shelly and Joe. So sorry to read about your Dad’s death, Shelly. He sounded like such a wonderful, accomplished, man. Thoughts are with you and your entire family. Miss you neighbor.
Tom Reilly says
Leu Family,
‘Sorry to know of Ed’s passing. I’ve always enjoyed talking with him (and Ruth…) and he was 100% a gentleman. A hardworking person,- a solid role model for all of us on how to live an honest, productive life and benefit your community. Take care.
Tom
Fred Ziesman says
I’m sorry for your loss Shelly although you may not remember me from school in East Helena.
Marcee Roberts says
To the Leu family,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Ed was such a good man and his lifelong friendship meant a great deal to my Dad. As a kid I fondly remember seeing Ed in his easy chair smoking a cigar and watching TV in the evenings when I was over visiting Shelly. I knew him to be a very kindhearted and gentle man. One of the last times I saw Ed, he was visiting the Helena Ford dealership he loved so much. He was definitely in his element! 🙂 I do believe that Mom and Dad were right there at heaven’s gate with open arms to welcome him home! May God bless you all with peace and understanding, and may you rest in heavenly peace, Ed.
Julie Forbes says
We pray the memories your family has over all these years will soften your grief. So difficult to lose a parent, no matter how long of a life they’ve lived. The Leu family has a strong bond and that is something we’ve admired all these years. That bond stems from your Mom and Dad. Keeping all of you in our thoughts.
Jeff and Julie Forbes
Doug and Sharon Miller says
Val and Karen, Sharon and I send our condolences to you and your extended families.
Sharon and Doug Miller
Jerry Maddio says
Dear Ruth and family I was blessed to know Ed and all your family . Your all in my prayers as you heal from your loss of Ed.
Kathie Roos says
Mitchell, Ruth, and family,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Peace and love to all of you.