On January 17, 2017 Eugene Leidholt, age 88, of Miles City, MT passed away at his home in Miles City of a broken heart.
Eugene was born on December 11, 1928 in Roscoe, South Dakota to Karl and Rosa Leidholt. Eugene was born into a family that would eventually contain 13 children. When he was one year old, his family moved to Wesson Flats, MT which was seventy miles from Miles City.
Eugene’s family lived in a three room house and they were very poor. His mother was a housewife and his father worked for the neighbors when there was work. There was no well near the house so water had to be hauled half a mile. Every day, Eugene and his siblings walked three and half miles to school. Eugene started milking cows when he was six years old. There many times that Eugene and his siblings went hungry because there was not enough food to eat.
In 1941, Eugene and the family moved to a small ten acre farm outside of Miles City. He graduated from eighth grade at Kircher School and this was his last formal schooling. He then began his first job herding sheep to support the family. He worked installing water and sewer lines for the Radar base. Then he worked for the Grasshopper Control Project, construction projects and various heavy equipment jobs. Eugene worked for the County Road Department for thirty-three years retiring in 1992. In 1993 he went to work for his nephew Dwayne, doing farm work for thirteen years.
On February 14, 1959 Eugene married the love of his life Helen Jean Decker. To this union their daughter Tammy was born in 1962. He loved spending time with his daughter and grandson Kevin, whom he was very proud of and enjoyed swapping stories with his son-in-law Alan. Together Eugene and Jean enjoyed many cruises to New Zealand and the Bahamas, they loved going to country western concerts and rodeos together. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, but the last ten years of his life he spent faithfully taking care of his sick wife. After Jean died, Eugene’s health started rapidly declining, and he passed six months after his beloved wife.
Eugene was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, his father Karl, his mother Rosa, his brothers; Adolph(his best friend), Edwin, Leonard, Robert, Julius and his sisters; Martha Snodgrass, Peggy Wilson and Tillie DeMaris.
Eugene is survived by his daughter Tammy, son-in-law Alan Raymond and grandson Kevin; his sisters, Violet Howe and Alma Hartman; his brothers, Philip and James and numerous nephew and nieces.
Family will be receiving friends Friday January 20th, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at the Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Saturday January 21, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church or a charity of one’s choice.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday January 20, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, MT 59301
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday January 21, 2017
Trinity Lutheran Church
221 S. Center
Miles City, MT 59301
Interment
following funeral service
Saturday January 21, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, MT 59301
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday January 20, 2017
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, MT 59301
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Saturday January 21, 2017
Trinity Lutheran Church
221 S. Center
Miles City, MT 59301
Interment
following funeral service
Saturday January 21, 2017
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, MT 59301
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Jessie and Jim Leidholt says
Dear Tammy and family, your dad was very special and he is going to be missed very much. He loved you all so very much and relished being a grandpa. Was so proud of Kevin. Hugs to all of you.
Deryl & Tracee Raymond-Waples says
Tammy, Alan, Kevin and the extended Leidholt family, we are sending you all our sincere condolences and tell you that Gene will be missed at our family dinners. We are so very sorry for your loss. If there is anything that we can do to help please do not hesitate to ask. Both your mom and dad were wonderful people and they will be dearly missed.
Mike & Judy Toennis Family says
Our thoughts and prayers are with your families.
Jean Jones says
Tammy, Alan & Kevin…so sorry for your loss. Many thoughts for you and the family.
Natasha says
Tammy, Alan, and Kevin,
I am so sorry for your loss. Uncle Eugene was such a remarkable person and in inspiration in how hard he worked and how much pride he took in his work. I enjoyed many adventures at our farm as a child and thankfully Uncle Eugene was there to help get us out of a pickle. He was a friend of my Dad’s and I know he and Dad are probably farming together in heaven now.
Wanda Linnell Richlen says
Thoughts and prayers go your way Tammy and family. Brent and I remember both your parents from our time at Trinity. God Bless
Sandy McFarland-Hays says
Tammy and Family, I was so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing but they are once again together. Sending prayers your way.
Della Leidholt Connor says
Tammy and family,
I was so sorry to hear about your Dad. I have fond memories of both of your parents and our childhood. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love, Della
Jack and Clare says
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. You have our prayers and sympathy. Jack and Clare Doran
Stephani Schumacher-Collins says
Tammy and family,
Sorry for the loss of your father. Loss is hard. Hold on to knowing there are lots of people thinking and praying for you and your family.
Take care,
Stephani Schumacher-Collins