On Sunday, March 14, 2021, our heavenly Father called his faithful son Leo G. Walchuk home and reunited him with his loving wife, Mae. The couple who had been married almost 70 years will now enjoy eternal life together.
Leo was born on September 6, 1928 in Malta, Montana where his family homesteaded. He was the second of six children growing up in rural Montana developing a tireless work ethic. Leo served in the United States Navy from 1946-1949. He was proud to have been part of the VR8 squadron as an aviation radioman and flew campaigns in the Pacific and Europe, and participated in the Berlin Airlift. He always entertained his grandchildren with stories of those years in service of his country.
In August of 1950, Leo and Mae were married in Polson and then moved to Helena so that Leo could attend Carroll College earning a BA in accounting. With a wife and three young boys, Leo moved to Colorado to complete his MBA at the University of Denver. In 1956, after receiving his degree, the family moved to Anacortes Washington where Leo went to work for Shell Oil Company.
Leo began his career at Carroll College in 1962 when hired by Archbishop Hunthausen to begin the upgrade of the Business Office operations, set up internal controls and convert all accounting, payroll and personnel records to an IBM computerized system. In 1968, Monsignor Brown appointed Leo as the Vice President of Business Affairs, a position that he held until his retirement. Much of Leo’s final two years at Carroll were spent overseeing the reconstruction of the campus buildings and grounds after the Montana Rail Link explosion in 1989. Long after his retirement you could find him cheering on the Saints at a football or basketball game.
After his retirement, Leo turned to a new passion, race horses. It started simply when he had an opportunity to purchase a colt from Secretariat and blossomed to its heyday when at one time he had as many as seventeen horses which he was training. He raced horses throughout the Pacific Northwest and reveled in the new experiences and lifelong friendships he made along the way.
Leo was a man of deep faith. He always turned to prayer in times of joy and heartache. In these final weeks of life, he was at peace knowing he would soon be joining the love of his life and in the arms of our Lord.
Leo is proceeded in death by his parents, four brothers, his sister and his wife. He is survived by his younger brother Joe (Susan) and his five children; Don (Molly), Eddy, Mike (Terri), Pat and Renee’ (Barry); 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
The Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 2021 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 19, 2021 at the Carroll College Chapel. Burial with Military Honors will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Ronan Cemetery in Ronan, MT. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Peter and Pearl Walchuk scholarship fund at Carroll College.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family of to share a memory of Leo.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday March 18, 2021
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
10:00 a.m.
Friday March 19, 2021
Carroll College Chapel
1601 N Benton Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial with Military Honors
3:00 p.m.
Friday March 19, 2021
Ronan Cemetery
Ronan, Montana 59864
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday March 18, 2021
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
10:00 a.m.
Friday March 19, 2021
Carroll College Chapel
1601 N Benton Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Burial with Military Honors
3:00 p.m.
Friday March 19, 2021
Ronan Cemetery
Ronan, Montana 59864
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Michelle Van Nice says
Renee’,
So very sorry for the loss of your Dad. Your parents were wonderful kind souls. Keeping you and all of your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Michelle Van Nice
James & Pam O'Connell says
Renee and Don
Pam and I are sorry for the loss of your Dad. I will always remember their kindness to our family and of course I have memories of your Dad from when I was at school at Carroll. I remember Leo walking around the campus from when I came there in 1963. He always looked like a cowboy to me and later I loved to hear him speak. After he retired I would hear from you about his horse raising and racing and think Wow what a thing to do. He and Mae will be greatly missed.
Kathleen Hunthausen says
Walchuck Family,
On behalf of the A.A. Hunthausen Family, we extend our most sincere condolences to all of you. Your father and mother were such gentle, loving people, and we hope you are comforted by the fact that they are together in heaven. Blessings to all of you as you celebrate your Dad’s long, wonderful life.
Richard Francesco says
Saint Mary Catholic Community will remember Leo in prayer at all Masses on the weekend of March 20-21. Leo and his beloved Mae have been a gracious and faithful presence in our parish family for many years. Together, may they inherit the kingdom prepared for them. God bless all the Walchuk family. Rev. Richard G. Francesco
Tony Forret says
To Don & Molly, Eddy, Mike & Terri, Patrick, Renee & Barry,
I sincerely feel your great loss of your dad, and of course, your mother too. So many WAY BACK memories that always make me smile. Leo Walchuk was, like Joe Forret, the kind of man I want to be.
He took being my godfather seriously, too. Well into adulthood, whenever I’d talk with him, he’d ask me if I was going to church. And he was the kind of man I wouldn’t lie to, even if the answer wasn’t the one he’d hoped for.
So, in my mind, it was a true act of Providence that planted the seed of everlasting friendship between our parents that was gifted to us.
Much love and God bless from Bridget and I.
Michael Glueckert says
Leo was a friend of all and a very good kind generous man. He will be missed by all. My condolences to Mae and all the family. So sorry of his passing!
Rebekka Dodge says
Don, Ed, Mike, Pat, Renee,
I have such wonderful memories of your parents. Your dad always kept a beautiful yard and home. He was kind and gentle. It was so much fun knowing your parents. I am glad they are together again. You have my deepest condolences. I will always remember Leo with a smile in my heart.
Ken and Janet Neumiller says
Dear Walchuk Family,
We are deeply saddened to read of Leo’s passing. What a wonderful, gentle man. Visiting with Mae and him after mass was such a pleasure. He was such a role model as a Christian man. What a beautiful life. It is heartwarming to know that he is once again with his loving Mae. Our deepest sympathy to all of you.
Nick Ranalli says
Walchuk Family,
So sorry for the loss of your Dad. Mr Walchuk was a true gentleman. I will always remember how much I enjoyed seeing and talking with him at O’Connell Hall and later at the Saints basketball games. He was such a happy person and always had a smile. He will be greatly missed.
Ron Iverson says
Mike and family– I was so surprised and saddened by Leo’s passing. Of all the people I knew, Leo was the most gracious, kind, and thoughtful person. And very capable of assuming his duties–whether it was Carroll College or anywhere else. Mike, you played basketball for me with the Helena Americans, and I loved your spirit. You were a true competitor, and I always enjoyed having you on my teams. I am saddened by Leo’s passing, but I know he had things under control with the Lord, so he has gone to a better place. May your family count the blessings he brought to your fine family. My condolences, Ron