Leona Lee (Campbell) Byington, 86
Leona “Lee” (Campbell) Byington, 86, of Whitefish, passed away Feb. 17, 2017.
Lee was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, July 17, 1930, to Pearl Mildred Johnson Campbell and Ruben Campbell.
Lee loved the outdoors, dogs (especially Champ) and painting. Although Lee did not receive formal training, her artwork was extraordinary. She drew and painted landscapes, animals, and dabbled in abstract painting. By leading with her heart, she was able to capture the essence of her subjects making the art pure and simple. As Lee lost her eyesight in her later years, she would describe scenes from her memory and how she would capture them on her canvas.
Lee began working at the age of eleven washing dishes at a restaurant in her home town of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. In order to reach the sink she stood on a milk box. The money she made from her work there and later as a lifeguard was used to feed her family, but it also allowed her to save enough to buy the books and supplies she needed to graduate from high school.
It was after graduation that she met her husband of 68 years, Blaine Rudolph Byington. Lee described Blaine as her one and only true love. Lee lost Blaine Jan. 6, 2014, and mourned his absence every day.
Lee was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers, Mitt, Joe and Buddy, one sister, Twila and her son-in-law Michael Derbidge.
Lee is survived by her four children, Tori Byington and her wife Leah Hyman-Byington of Millersburg, Oregon; Dart Byington and his wife Carol of Elizabeth, Colorado; Craig Byington and his wife Denise of Helena; and Judyth Derbidge of Idaho Falls, Idaho; nine grandchildren, Sarah, Nicholas, Domini, Aron, Adam, Clint, Codi, Brooke and Weston and numerous great-grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren were a great source of pride for Lee. There was not a day in her life she was not asking about them, thinking of them and praying for them.
A memorial service will be held for Lee at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Columbia Mortuary, 1010 Fourth Ave W. Columbia Falls, MT 59912. The service will be followed by a reception 1 p.m. at the Back Room of the Nite Owl Restaurant in Columbia Falls. Columbia Mortuary is caring for Lee’s family.