Leon Edward Neier, 87

Leon Edward Neier, 87, died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie Neier; son, Glen Neier, of Kalispell; granddaughter, Shelly Neier, of Kalispell; and three stepgrandchildren, Teresa and Kirt Malzer along with their children, Richard, Andrew and Benjamin of Augusta ,Ga., Jacey and Todd Johnson and their child, Connor, of Boise, Idaho, and Alicia and Matt Cumming and their children, Makayla and Noah, also of Augusta.

Leon was born Aug. 1, 1919, in Choteau and grew up in Butte.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1942 to 1945. On Feb. 4, 1946, he married Elsie Larson in Colorado, where he worked as a railroad fireman and an electrician.

In 1956, Leon moved his family to Montana, where he worked as an electrician for the Columbia Falls Aluminum plant for 28 years. He enjoyed following politics and was a frequent editorial contributor to several local newspapers.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Anna Neier; and brothers, Lloyd, Howard, Emmett and Edward Jr.

Visitation for Leon will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 9, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Columbia Mortuary, with burial afterward at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.