Leon L. Wild, 80

Leon L. Wild, 80, passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

He was born on Sept. 7, 1933, in Milton, N.D. to Carl and Dorothy (Strand) Wild.

Leon grew up in Milton. He graduated from St. Alphonsus High School in Langdon, N.D. in 1951.

After high school he attended college at St. Johns in Collegeville, Minn., where he spent two years before joining the Army.

In September of 1957, he married Eileen Lorenz. He then entered the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1958. Upon graduation, Leon and Eileen moved to Merced, Calif., where he began work for Prudential Life Insurance Co. In 1988, he retired to a part-time insurance brokerage business of his own after marrying Carol B. Lindley.

Leon’s favorite pastimes were golf, fly fishing, watching basketball and baseball, and always trying to lend a helping hand. For the past three years he has resided at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls to be near his son, Lee, and family.

Leon is survived by his three children, Lee and Georgia Wild, Michelle and Don Miller, and Sue and Andy Kirn; his grandchildren, James and Drew Miller, Paul and Micah Wild, Hannah and Jason Kirn; his sister, Janet and Richard Cota; and brothers, Carl and Florence Wild, Larry and Janet Wild, and Paul and Leanne Wild.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eileen; and granddaughter, Leah Wild.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on May 21 at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Montana Veterans Home, 400 Veterans Drive, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.