Leroy Caleb McLaren, 28

Leroy Caleb McLaren passed away Oct. 8, 2021.

Caleb McLaren was born in August of 1993 and grew up in Townsend. The family moved to Delta Junction, Alaska, where he completed middle and high school.

Caleb accelerated in sports and academics in high school; he played basketball, baseball, and football, among other sports, for fun. He went on to play college football at the University of Minnesota-Morris. He then decided to transfer schools to pursue a degree in diesel technology at Montana State University-Northern. While completing this program, he met the love of his life, Sierra Collins. After graduation, he started his career in Bismarck, North Dakota, at Butler CAT before returning to Montana. Caleb resided in Columbia Falls and was employed at Western States as a versatile diesel technician.

As a constant tinkerer from an early age, Caleb loved anything to do with engines and everything that went fast. This fueled his passion for 1970s Ford trucks, nitro cars, dirt bikes, tearing apart engines, and his future career. Caleb spent his free time in Columbia Falls and Kalispell riding dirt bikes, volunteering to be a flag guy and track rep with the Flat Head Dirt Riders and Nirada Raceway.

Caleb was a devoted partner who made the perfect teammate to Sierra. He supported her in all her endeavors, following her to many rodeos. They could often be found working side by side on each of their trucks.

Caleb will be remembered for his infectious, quirky smile, always being ready for fun, and never taking things too seriously. He was easy to spend time with and loved the people in his life hard and well. His great big hugs and love were felt by many. Anyone who brushed shoulders with him walked away better from it. Wherever Caleb spent time, he left a lasting impression.

Caleb is survived by his significant other Sierra Collins, his twin brother, Chance (Stephanie), and older siblings Levi (Cassie and son, Jameson), Tanner, Whitney (Erica), and his parents Arthur and Terri McLaren. His extended family includes his grandparents, Chuck and Anna McLane; aunts and uncles, Shari (Randy) Robertson, Cindy McLaren, Richard (Rhonda) McLane, Roy McLane, Lisa McLane and Dave Lukenbill; cousins, Josh (Lisa) Sawyer, Brady and Lizzy Roberson (c: Bjorn and Esben), Franque Robertson (c: Zara), Justin Lopez, Zach and Jessica Lukenbill (c: Madison and Sawyer), Joey Lukenbill (c: Aurelia and Jude), Sam Lukenbill, Alex Lukenbill, Benjamin Lukenbill, Shaye and Dan Farnsworth (c: Lexie and Logan), Napoleon Clayton, Hannibal and Autumn Clayton(c: Alex and Lincoln). He is also survived by Sierra’s family Marsha and Kacey Collins and Bailey Murphy.

Caleb was preceded in death by his grandparents Shirley and Arthur McLaren, great-grandmother Lucy “Nana” Howard, and uncles Wade Sawyer and Frank Lopez.

We will all greatly miss Caleb.

The McLaren family will be hosting a celebration of life on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. at Darlington Funeral Home (3408 U.S. Hwy. 2 East) in Kalispell. Caleb will be laid to rest in the Deep Creek Cemetery in Townsend on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. If he impacted your life, the family would love to see you for the celebrations at either or both locations.

A live feed will be available at the following link https://my.gather.app/remember/leroy-caleb-mclaren