Alvia E. Leighton, 99
Alvia E. Leighton passed away peacefully at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls on Oct. 19, 2015, just five months short of living to his goal of 100.
Alvia was born on March 21, 1916, to Robert Zena and Loula (Trollope) Leighton in Beach, North Dakota. The family lived in Wibaux but homesteaded in Golden Valley, North Dakota, where Alvia’s mother’s family lived. Alvia’s parents grew wheat, but years of drought convinced them to try their luck somewhere else, and when he was seven they moved to St. Ignatius for a year and then to Ronan where he lived until 1941.
Alvia married Florence Rutledge in Greenville, South Carolina, where Alvia was stationed prior to being sent overseas to serve in World War II.
Alvia had been drafted into the Army on Oct. 3, 1941, but changed over to the Air Corps and went from Wichita Falls, Kansas, to Sheppard Field, Texas, for Aircraft Maintenance School, and then to the 320th Squadron of the 90th Bomb Group of the 5th Air Force in Barksdale Field, Louisiana. He was briefly stationed in Ypsilanti, Michigan, at the Ford bomber plant base where the first B-24 bombers were being built. Florence said goodbye to Alvia when he went to Camp Stone, California, then Pearl Harbor, and finally from Brisbane to the Iron Range in northern Australia and on to New Guinea where he was stationed for one and a half years. Alvia was stationed on a small island off of Okinawa, Japan, when the war officially ended and was discharged as a master sergeant on Oct. 3, 1945, with the following decorations and citations: Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge GO 38 43, Philippine Liberation Medal with One Bronze Service Star.
Alvia had many talents and always had a job, even as a youth. He was a heavy truck driver, school janitor, basketball referee, mechanic, concrete contractor, pilot, undersheriff, saw filer and LaBella Lane caretaker.
Once back in Montana, Alvia eventually went to work for Pete Dupuis building a saw mill and learned the trade of saw filing. Alvia was employed as a saw filer and foreman by Dupuis Lumber Company in Polson for 12 years then Pack River, the new owners, from 1964 to 1979 and did consulting work at various mills in Montana and Idaho until he retired in 1996.
Alvia enjoyed racing C-Hydro speed boats, operating his CB, fishing, traveling, piloting, dancing, snowmobiling and entertaining family and friends.
The couple lived in the Ronan area nine years, then moved to LaBella Lane in Big Arm in 1954, where they resided for 52 years enjoying life on Flathead Lake. In 2006, they moved to their new home in Kalispell where they resided until moving into assisted living in 2014. Alvia’s cell phone was his link to the outside world and it was kept busy calling family and his many friends!
Alvia was a 50-plus member of the Masons 32nd Degree, Salish Shrine Club life member, Scottish Rite life member, and member of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Flathead Lake Inboard Racing Association and Montana Boat Racing Association.
Alvia always had an interest in aviation. After his military service, he earned his private pilot’s license and owned three different planes. In later years he was fascinated with all the electronics in commercial jets and at the age of 97 a friend arranged for him to take a helicopter ride which thrilled and pleased him to no end.
“When once you have tasted flight you will always walk the earth with your eyes skyward; for there you have been and there you will always be.” —Henry Van Dyke
Alvia was predeceased in May by his loving wife of 72 years, Florence, and even though Alvia was the oldest of six children, he outlived all of his five siblings, Clifton “Tip,” Marie Shennum, Gerald, Louella Pendelton and Anita Richards.
Alvia is survived by his brother-in-law, Ron Richards of Seeley Lake; sister-in-law, Jeanne Leighton of Ronan; numerous cousins; several nieces and nephews and many close friends.
The family extends grateful appreciation to the caregivers at the Montana Veterans Home, Heritage Place, Prestige, Brendan House, Home Options and Addus for their patience and loving care as well as the calls, visits and cards from his faithful family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made to the Masonic Temple, c/o Douglas Stam, 37376 Ponderilla Drive, Polson, MT 59860; or to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, P.O. Box 221, Kalispell, MT 59903; or Mission Valley Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1644, Polson, MT 59860. Alvia got much enjoyment from his kitty Corky and all of his antics as well as all of their other pets.
A joint service for Alvia and Florence will be held next summer.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
To send a note of condolence, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com.