Leory Stewart, 88, of Helena passed away peacefully at his home in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 24, 2013
Leroy was born on April 29, 1925 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and later moved to Helena. At 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps and proudly served our country during World War II in the South Pacific as part of the 1st Marine Division Scout Company. He received the Purple Heart as a result of injuries sustained during combat.
In 1953, he married Vernie and the two spent several years living and working between Helena and Alaska. They eventually settled in Helena where he worked for the State of Montana Highway Department until he retired in 1986.
Leroy also spent many years working weekends at Mt. Belmont ski area and was very well known by all the locals.
He is best known for being an avid outdoorsman who truly loved and respected the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He was also a member of the Beartooth Mountain Men Muzzleloaders Association and built his own muzzleloaders. Many would consider him the “go-to-guy” for any fishing and hunting advice.
Leroy is survived by his wife, Vernie Stewart; sons Wayne Stewart and Shayne Stewart; daughter Lynn Kruger; six grandchildren, Rachel Shubert, Samuel Kruger, Rebecca Kruger, Sarah Stewart, Stephen Kruger, and Alyssa Stewart.
A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 7100 N. Montana Ave. Helena. A reception will immediately follow the graveside service in the social hall at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday September 7, 2013
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
7100 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, MT 59602
Reception
Following the graveside service
Saturday September 7, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday September 7, 2013
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
7100 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, MT 59602
Reception
Following the graveside service
Saturday September 7, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, MT 59602
Share
Rhonda Lindquist Schaffer says
Leroy always had a smile and a twinkle in his eye, I will never forget his days as a “lifty” at Belmont. My prayers are with you. Peace. Rhonda
John Ulberg says
LeRoy was a designer for me at the Highway Department. But I knew him best from the
Beartooth Mountain Men shoots. He helped me out with gun problems and shared many
a fishing and hunting tale with me. He was very proud of his family, and a fierce defender
of his principles. He left his mark on me and many others. May the peace of God be with you.
-John
Sue Binion-Wilke says
Dear Family of Leroy,
We so enjoyed living across the street from you for so many years. You always were so kind to my girls and Jim and I. Leroy was a great man and he will be missed by all. Our prayers are with all of you.
Peace,
Sue, Andrea and Ashley
Bob Winfield says
A friend of my Dad and Uncle Roland I have known Leroy all of my life. What a great guy. My Dad and Leroy hunted, fished and trapped together. They were mentors to a little kid that never forgot what they taught. Leroy was one reason I became a game warden MANY years ago. His knowledge and love of Montana’s natural resources helped to instill in me the same admiration for hunting, fishing and trapping and try to insure it would be available for all generations of Montanan’s to enjoy.
His are shoes that cannot be filled only admired and respected.
He will be missed, but now he can get back to what he loved to do.
All our best wishes to his family.
Bob Winfield and Joe Winfield
rob poirier says
prayers to family, Leroy was the Belmont , i will always remember from the ealy 60’s on, all the hard work, he did on that hill,- with a big smile,- helping all to enjoi the lifestyle, that so many cherish, because of his unselfish efforts, thanx for all you did, you will never be forgotten, peace be with you, !
Rachel Kruger Shubert says
Wow. Where do I begin. Leroy was the BEST Grandpa a girl could ask for. I will always hear him saying ” I love you too sweetheart” and remember his laugh. I will always remember how he told me when we went fishing we only caught the girl fish because they were the ones with their mouths open from talking (he was always right every time). I will always remember how he would water his garden all day so at night we could go catch night crawlers. I loved going with him to get his morning coffee. Not only was he this wonderful grandfather to me, but he was an honored veteran of war and purple heart recipient. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. There is not a memory that I have that isn’t amazing. I am so blessed to have had him as a grandfather. I loved every second I spent with him and I am very honored to be his granddaughter. I love you Grandpa and I will see you again one day as we praise our awesome God together!!! To the rest of my family I LOVE you all and I am praying for God to fill your hearts with only HIS divine peace, love and joy.
-Rachel Kruger Shubert-
Rebecca Kruger says
My Grandpa…wow…what a man! I’ve always thought it was our duty to join the military…but it helps joining a cause when you had such an awesome role model like Leroy Stewart! First Marine Division sniper scout..purple heart WW2 vet..damn…
My grandpa taught me how to fish and shoot…he taught me about life…he taught me about work…he showed my brothers the husbands role and showed my sister and I how a wife should be treated by her husband…he is the best grandpa anyone could wish for..God decided to bless me with the best..I love you grandpa…I can’t wait to see you again…until then ill be kickin ass and takin names like you told me to do! I love you..
Elaine Tufflfi says
What a nice nice man with the kindest eyes I have ever seen. Not sure how else to describe him. He remembered me years after I first met him even though he had not seen me for a long time. I will miss not chatting with him at CVS, wasn’t real often but it sure made my day when I did. I am so sorry for your loss.
Clay Pipinich says
Sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with all of you. Rest in Peace.
Joe Munzenrider says
I am one of hundreds who first met Leroy at Belmont Ski Area. That was when I first started skiing in 1974. Leroy was such a warm, welcoming person – he was an intregal part of a good day of skiing. I always enjoyed meeting Leroy around town after he left the ski hill, and kept track of him through Wayne and Shayne. I’m glad he was able to continue his love of fishing. People like Leroy make Helena a wonderful place to live. He left a great legacy. Rest (and fish) in Peace.
Stubby Williams says
I met the Stewart family in the early 80’s through Kelly Delahunt. There was a feeling of greatness when I met Leroy that day. A feeling that he had been there and done that. I didn’t know him as well as I wish I could have but did get to see him every once in awhile around town and outside of town. I was in North Dakota with my wife and some of her family about 20 years ago. I was cruising the two lane around Dodge, Zap and Beulah with my wife’s uncles looking for old vehicles for them to buy. We stopped for lunch at a Dairy Queen in the middle of nowhere and as I was walking out I said hi to a man that looked a lot like Leroy but didn’t think there was any way he would be in that area. He also thought that I looked familiar and also turned around about the same time. We looked at each other in disbelief thinking the same thing. When he told me what he was doing there it all made sense. There was some big fish to be caught just north of there. What a GREAT Man and a GREATER Loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wonderful Family.
Jack Schilla says
Leroy was one of the best fisherman I’ve ever known. He had particular special expertise at Flathead Lake where I spent time with him, and for that matter, anywhere he fished, he caught many. Wayne, & family, may God give you strength, and solace, at this time, as you celebrate Leroy’s life. Leroy was a very good man, and a special mentor to many.
Jim and Jeanne Coleman says
Vernie, Our prayers are with you all. God Bless.
Staci Drennon Littrel says
I am so sorry for your loss Stewart Family. I know that Leroy, dad and Uncle Paul are reunited again, swapping stories and laughs together. I too remember his laugh and how I enjoyed hearing all of Leroy and dads stories. He was a great man and we Drennon’s are blessed to have you as friends! Praying for God’s Peace for you all.
Luetta Yoder says
I met Leroy and his family through my daddy who served in the Marines with Leroy. I cherish the memories of the Marine Reunions that I attended with my parents. At one of the reunions held in Wichita, Kansas Leroy’s son Shayne met my best friend Malinda and they were married a few years later. So they have truly became a family to me. I know my daddy and other Marines were standing at Heaven’s gate to welcome another great man and Marine. He will be missed by many. Prayers and Love to the Stewart family. Luetta
Roy and Kay Hickman says
You can’t think of the #1 rope tow and not remember Leroy. How many times he jumped out of that tower to save someone. You would see him walking up the hill in the morning to get to his job for the day. He was a great supporter of the Belmont ski Patrol and he taught his sons and daughter to think of safety first. And what great skiers they all became.
We would see him and Vernie at the Mother Lode every once in awhile and listen intently to his fishing stories. Our love goes out to the family. We lost a good man that Saturday.
Curtis Cummings says
My sympathies are with Vernie, Wayne, Shane and Lynn. While I don’t remember Leroy in as glowing terms as others, I’m sorry to hear of his passing…hopefully he, Mickie, Jack, Earl, Una and Florence will all have a peaceful reunion.