Leonard Charles Stetzner
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Our Father, one of Montana's best, at 100, passed away on Monday July 11 at the home of his daughter Linda Johnson in Big Timber, MT. He was born a native Montanan near Butte (Silver Bow) on a cold winter day January 13, 1922. He was the second born out of eight to William F Stetzner, Sr. and Sara Guay.
He grew up in the greater Butte area, attended grade school at Ramsey elementary and high school at Butte Central run by the Christian Brothers. After graduating in 1940 he did telegraphy and took a job with Mountain States division of ATT. There he progressed from lineman to a supervisory Engineer until he retired in 1981.
In 1942, while working in Sterling Colorado, he met the love of his life Bernice Morris, a telephone operator at the time. They fell in love and married on March 6, 1943. This was the first of 77 beautiful years together. They were able to celebrate their 75th Diamond anniversary together in 2018.
Leonard was an amazing Father, Man and Friend to many who had the opportunity to know him. He had a strong zest of all things in Life. His Family, relatives and friends came first. He loved fishing, hunting, traveling, gardening, cooking, eating & drinking, dancing, playing card games, gambling (Poker), Westerns (books and movies). He rolled all that in with a great sense of humor. He enjoyed socializing and was a generous man who was always helping and giving to others. He told great stories about things he saw and experienced. He could repair and fix just about anything.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice, parents, brothers, William, Jr, Donald, and Carl, his sisters Marge and Mary Sara, grandchildren Danny and Jeff, his son-in-law Steve Johnson, numerous other family relatives and friends.
He is survived by his 6 children, Linda Johnson (Big Timber), Larry Stetzner (Frisco Texas), Timm Stetzner (Manzanillo MX), Kitty Daly (Billings MT), Mary Lincoln (Kalispell MT), Bill Stetzner (Belgrade MT). His sisters Dolores (Palm Desert, CA) and Deanna Cowley (Idaho Falls ID) There are 14 living grandchildren and about 20 greatgrandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held in Big Timber at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Thursday July 28 at 3PM.
We give a special thanks to Jill Brown who helped both our Mom and Dad during their later years in Big Timber. We 5 younger children are eternally grateful for our Sister Linda Johnson who devoted so much of her time and energy making Dad and Mom's years so much better. We love you.
To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.stenbergfuneralhome.com