Leo Schaefer
Leo Thomas Schaefer “passed into the arms of our heavenly Father” on Sept. 23, 2013, following a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by family and his faithful dog Teddy.
He was born on March 14, 1931, in Watford City, N.D., to Herbert Herman Schaefer and Lillie Christine Transtrom Schaefer.
In 1935, Leo’s family moved to Cut Bank. Leo graduated from Cut Bank High School in the spring of 1950 and married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Jean Werner, on Jan. 20, 1951. The honeymoon was short-lived as Leo received his draft notice and enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 15, 1951.
Leo was assigned to the USS Yorktown CAV-10. In 1955, upon hearing of the death of his father in a plane crash, Leo was honorably discharged and returned home to assist his mother. His commitment to his country never faltered, and he served in the U.S. Navy Reserves until 1959.
Leo was an active businessman in Cut Bank and owned the Furniture Mart and the Legion Club Restaurant.
He volunteered countless hours in his community, including an appointment to the Police Commission in 1950, Cut Bank City Council member from 1977-1993 and Cut Bank volunteer firefighter from 1964-1984, and he put his pilot’s license to use flying rescue missions during the Flood of 1964. He was also a member of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church and the Community Bible Church.
On Feb. 12, 1993, Leo married Marilyn Durocher Strand. They enjoyed the snowbird lifestyle and spent much of their time attending auctions in Arizona and traveling with friends.
Leo is survived by his wife Marilyn; his children Patricia Rikke (Al), Linda Newhouse (Bill), Scott Schaefer (Marla), Mark Schaefer, Ann West (James), Dana Schaefer and Paul Schaefer (Audra); their mother Arlene; stepsons Mike Polske (Christine) and Russell Strand; 20 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and siblings Lyman Schaefer, Wilbur Schaefer, Carol Normandeau, Mary Lee Turner, Gerald Schaefer and Tom Schaefer.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Leo’s many friends as well as the staff at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Dr. Wagner, Dr. Stillie and Dr. Swanabelt, Brendan House staff, and Dr. Swanson from the VA clinic.
A memorial service will be held at Golden Valley Church of Christ, in Golden Valley, Ariz., on Saturday, Oct 19, 2013, at 2 p.m. and in Cut Bank on June 28, 2014.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leo’s honor to the Veterans Memorial Park, P.O. Box 24, Cut Bank MT 59427 or the Cut Bank Volunteer Fire Department, 911 E. Railroad St., Cut Bank MT 59427.