Leonard J. Boos

Leonard J. Boos, 83, died Thursday, June 13, 2013, of respiratory failure at St. Vincent’s Healthcare in Billings, Mont.

He was born on Jan. 27, 1930, to August Antone and Anna Loretta (Young) Boos. He grew up on the family farm 18 miles north of Wagner, Mont., and attended school in Dodson, where he was proud to be a Coyote. He was an exceptional athlete and excelled in football and basketball. He graduated from Dodson High School in 1948. He entered the workforce and later joined the Army, in which he was deployed to Germany during the Korean War in 1950.

On June 27, 1955, he married the love of his life, Lillian Grimsley, and they were blessed with three sons. Leonard and Lillian lived around the Malta area for 10 years until they set up roots in Glasgow, where they lived for the past 48 years.

He loved to visit and have coffee with his “coffee buddies,” took pride in his yard, enjoyed hunting, and playing cards with friends and family. He enjoyed refinishing furniture and was a wahoo champion in his own eyes. What he loved most of all was watching his boys play sports and later his grandchildren. He even coached some years of Little League baseball to fulfill his love of sports. He also enjoyed setting up the Christmas display of Santa and his reindeer every year because it brought joy to all of the children. He loved kids!

After everything that he had been through, he always remained positive and always found a way to crack a joke. Not a day went by where he did not make his family laugh, whether it was coming straight from his mouth or they would think of something goofy he said or did, like backing his pickup into the dump!

He was the best husband, father, grandpa and friend his family could have ever asked for. He never fell short of spoiling his children rotten and would do anything in the world for everyone around him. Just being in the same room with him made his family feel safe and happy! They all looked forward to his “Ice Cream and Popcorn parties,” and will forever cherish their memories with their beloved Leonard.

He is preceded in death by four brothers, Joseph, Vincent, Bernard and Donny Boos; one grandson, Lane Boos; and two great-granddaughters, Kinlee and Nola Dennison.

Survivors include his wife, Lillian Boos; three sons, Tony Boos and his wife, Missy, Ed Boos and his wife, Kathy, and Darcy Boos and his wife, Nicole; four sisters, Lila Raymond, Evelyn Starkey and her husband, Bill, Lewellyn McNamara and her husband, Dick, and Mary Lou Lavey and her husband, Gene; and one brother, Thomas Boos and his wife, Karen; along with numerous nieces and nephews; eight grandchildren, Kent Boos and his wife, Carli, Cassie Dennison and her husband, Dustin, Tara Specht and her husband, Jared, Alishia Boos, Kyle and Quintan Boos, and Kenny and Chevy Boos; six great-grandchildren, Justus Boos, Mya and Grady Boos, Leah (Boos) Brewer, and Camri and Syri Dennison.

A vigil service was June 17 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Malta. Mass of Christian Burial was June 18 at St. Mary’s.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow was in charge of arrangements.