Leslie Arthur Finkbeiner, 103

Leslie Arthur 'Les' Finkbeiner, 103, died early Monday, April 24, 2006, at Valle Vista Manor near Lewistown.

Les was born Jan. 12, 1903, in Grass Range to Fred and Marie Finkbeiner.

He attended the Finkbeiner School in Grass Range and worked at the family home until he moved into Lewistown to attend high school.

He worked for Aero Refinery, refining crude oil from Cat Creek until the spring of 1923. He then worked for Diddy Construction as a carpenter. In February 1925, he met Dorothy Kinnick at a dance. They were married Nov. 21, 1925.

In the fall of 1928, he bought a truck and went into the trucking business. That same fall, he went to work for the state Highway Department and continued to work for the state Highway Department until January 1943.

At that time, he moved their house in Grass Range and the Carl Noble barn to the old home ranch on the Beaverball Creek. He and Dorothy farmed and ranched until November 1955. In 1955, they moved to Lewistown, where Les went to work at the Independent Lumber Yard. He became owner and operator of the Independent Lumber Yard in 1963 and continued to operate it until 1968, when he sold the property to Buttery Food Store and retired.

He was a member of the Grass Range United Methodist Church; a life member of Captain Scott Masonic Lodge No. 98 AF and AM and served as past master in 1940 and 1942; a member of Scottish Rite Bodies; a member of Al Bedoo Shrine; the Anna Smalley Chapter No. 112 Order of Eastern Star; the Elks and the Eagles. He also served as a school-board member at Grass Range; and served on the board of the Snowy Mountain Industries (Regional Services) for many years.

He enjoyed working with wood, all aspects of ranching, visiting with people, traveling, going to dances and calling square dances. He loved get-togethers at Pine Ridge and running old steam tractors.

Survivors include a daughter, LaVerne, and Pete Boettger of Lewistown; four grandchildren: Janie Kettenacker of Grass Range, Leslie and Jim DeWitt of Kalispell, Dennis Herbold of Stanford, and Joe and Char Herbold of Jordan; six great-grandchildren, Ty Kettenacker of Shepherd, Heidi and Kevin Rendina of Kalispell, Cassie DeWitt of Kalispell, Charity DeWitt of Kalispell, and Hailey Herbold and Heath Herbold, both of Jordan; and three great-great-grandchildren. He also is survived by a son-in-law, Lester 'Swede' Herbold, of Stanford; and a sister-in-law, Opal Finkbeiner, of Lewistown; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, in 2001; a daughter, Lois Herbold, in 2000; six brothers; and two sisters.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Creel Funeral Chapel in Lewistown. Masonic services will be under the auspices of Captain Scott Lodge No. 98 AF and AM. Inurnment will be at Lewistown City Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Grass Range United Methodist Church or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Creel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.