Leon Francis Walker, 88
Leon Francis Walker, 88, passed away at the Brendan House on Nov. 8, 2005, surrounded by his large family of nieces and nephews, and his sister Nettie. The Brendan House had been Leons home away from home for nearly six years.
Leon was born on Aug. 19, 1917, in Somers, to Robert Lee Walker and Bessie Kay Thomas Walker. Leon lived and worked on the family farm in Proctor all his life. As a boy, he attended grade school in a one-room class in Proctor. When Leon was a young boy he was baptized into the Christadelphian faith and was a strong believer in the Lord all his life. Leon was an outstanding scholar and was able to graduate as class valedictorian after only three years of attending high school in Polson. As a young man, in his spare time, you could find Leon catching brook trout in the streams of Dayton Creek.
After graduation Leon chose to live as a single man and work on the family farm in Proctor with his brother Thomas. After their father died in 1949, Leon, Thomas, and their mother Bessie dedicated the balance of their lives to living and working on their section of land in Proctor. During this time Leons sister, Nettie, husband, Richard Bain, and family, would spend weekends and Sunday dinners, as well as each Christmas for years to come, celebrating and making fond memories that will last forever. These tales of good times and laughter are still being recollected by the family each time they get together.
Leon had a close, special relationship with his loving sister Nettie who played a major role in his life, especially during the past several years when she watched over him, guarded and guided him and took care of all his necessities.
Leon really looked forward to and enjoyed all the special family gatherings at Bitterroot Lake during the holidays and the annual grinding of apples in the cider press each fall at the family farm.
Leon was a kind, sweet, loving and honest man who was admired and respected by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and brother Thomas.
He is survived by his sister, Annette Bain Wilson, of Marion; his nieces, Carolyn Messner and husband, Joe, of Arlee, Richie Kay Stone and husband, Jerry, of Missoula, and Valerie Wolf and husband, Merritt, of Twin Falls, Idaho; nephews, Dennis Bain and wife, Marilyn, of Kalispell, Greg Bain and fiancee, Clare LaMeres, of Lakeside, and Jeff Bain and wife, Lori, of Kalispell; and numerous great-nieces and -nephews.
Leon was loved and will be dearly missed by all his family, as well as the wonderful, talented staff and all his friends at Brendan House.
Visitation for Leon will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.