After fighting cancer several times over a span of many years, Leonard Stoddard of Broadus, MT passed away on March 29, 2018 in Belle Fourche, SD. He resided at his ranch until just one week before his death.
Leonard was born October 1, 1934 in Crook County, WY. He was the son of Florence (Fort) and Ray Stoddard and was delivered at the neighboring ranch a ¼ mile N of Moore Hill Cemetery by WW I nurse Elsie Wolf. He joked that he never made it very far in life as he was born only a ¼ mile from where he would be buried.
As a youngster, Leonard attended several country schools. He lived in a boarding house and the motel in Hulett, WY to complete the 8th grade and then went to work. He worked around Hulett and then moved to the Scottsbluff, NE area for a short time. He married Cleo (Huffman) Johnson in Kimball, NE on June 18, 1953. Cleo had been widowed and brought two young sons into the marriage, Mike and Don Johnson. The family returned to the original ranch north of Hulett where two more children were born, Steve Stoddard and Cindy (Stoddard) Bauman. As a young man, Leonard cut logs for the Kaiser sawmill north of Hulett.
With an 8th grade education and a mountain of ambition, Leonard began what would be his life’s accomplishment as a rancher. He ranched in the Hulett area until the year 2000 when he bought a ranch near Hammond, MT. His son Steve stocked the ranch with cattle and both he and Leonard lived on and ran the ranch together until Leonard’s death.
Leonard was an incredibly hard working man and was meticulous about doing things correctly. He fed cattle during the winters and in the summer he could usually be found on his 4 wheeler checking cattle, water, and fences. He had a fun sense of humor and enjoyed doing little things for others as evidenced by him always sharing the thermos jug of coffee and bag of candy bars that was always stashed on his 4 wheeler. Leonard had a great love for his family. Even the great grandchildren knew exactly where to go to get cookies.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Irene, his wife Cleo and son Don.
Survivors are his sons Steve (Julie Emmons) Stoddard of Broadus, MT and Mike (Sherry) Johnson of Laramie, WY; daughter Cindy Bauman of Rawlins, WY; dear friend Shirley Page of Belle Fourche, SD; and grandchildren Carla (Shawn) Klies, Julie (Derick) Stoddard-Terrill, Joni (Tim) Draine; Jay (Jami) Johnson, Jodi (Dave) Johnson-Smith; Gynene Schultz; Kathi Driskill and Bobbi (JR) Butler; and 15 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at Moore Hill Cemetery, Hulett, WY, Tuesday, April 10th at 11am with a lunch following at the Civic Center in Hulett.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
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Steve Vail says
So sorry for your loss. Steve and Tracy
Dave and Pam says
Our prayers for comfort at this very hard time – he was quite a fella, and you kids come from great stock! We care~
Michelle Greer (Fort) says
Cindy we are sorry for your loss your dad was a great man. Now he will lay near grandpa Fort we are praying for you and your family in this time of loss. We love you guys.
Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Condolences to the Stoddard family.
Isaiah says
I’m truly sorry for the loss of your loved one. May the God of tender mercies (Psalm 83:18) comfort and strengthen you for the days to come, 2 Cor.1:3,4.
Sharon Freed says
Steve and Families
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you in the loss of your Dad! He will be sadly missed by all who knew him!!
Sharon and Dennis Freed and Don Olson
Luern Wood says
So sorry we missed services for your dad. We hadn;t heard he passed. He was quite a guy and will be missed by many. Would liked to have seen family as been quite sometime since I’ve been in contact. Thinking of you all, Park and Luern Wood