Leore Paul Kanning, 87

| May 30, 2021 12:00 AM

Leore Paul Kanning, 87, passed away May 12, 2021, at the Heritage Place Nursing Home in Kalispell. Services will be planned for a future date.

Leo was born Jan. 9, 1934, in Plentywood. Losing his hearing at a young age, Leo attended the Montana School for the Deaf & Blind in Great Falls in the early 1940s. He was raised on the family wheat farm in Sheridan County until 1945. The family then moved to a wheat farm in Toole County. After obtaining his GED, he attended Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C., where he graduated with a Master in Deaf Education degree.

He taught deaf students in Arkansas, New Mexico and Idaho Schools for the Deaf before moving to the Flathead Valley to retire where he taught ASL part-time at Flathead Valley Community College.

Thank you to all who knew him! Leo enjoyed photography, reading, and was an avid bowler, for which he traveled all over the Western states. He could often be seen biking around town on his laid-back, reclining bicycle. Leo was very involved with the deaf community. He was a member of the Deaf Lutheran Church, Montana Association of the Deaf, and other recreational clubs. He was happy to converse with anyone who had a basic understanding of sign language, and always carried a pad and pen in his shirt pocket ready to write notes when needed.

Later in life he was able to check off a bucket list trip to Hawaii and attended a Gallaudet Alumni Reunion in Washington, D.C.

Leo had four brothers and four sisters. He had a special bond with his two deaf sisters, Elizabeth and Dorothy, along with several nieces and nephews who could sign, Lloyd Kanning of Shelby, Janice Forseth of Helena, Curtis (Betty) Kanning of Shelby, Fred Kanning of Great Falls, Dorothy Pickard of California, Liz (Bob) Ellesch of Kalispell, Eva McLean of Dunkirk and Calvin (Peggy) Kanning of Devon; and many nieces and nephews around the country. Leo’s son, Kent, resides in Arkansas.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Rose Kanning; and his brother, Curtis.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.