LeRoy Billadeau, 84

LeRoy Billadeau, 84, passed away April 7 at the Libby Care Center. He had been in declining health for some time.

He was born in Brainerd, Minn., on April 25, 1935, to Elmer and Mary Billadeau. He moved to Libby with his family when he was 4 years old. He had an older sister, Mary, and a younger sister, Jean.

LeRoy was really a jack-of-all-trades. In Montana, he worked as a logger and in construction. He loved to hunt and fish.

He married Joanne Gullingsrud in Libby in 1956 and the couple moved to Seattle in 1957. There, the family grew to include three children: Randy, Dixie and Jeff. LeRoy worked as a carpenter, in steel factories and then traveled the country installing suction tubing for drive thru banking facilities.

He and Joanne later divorced.

In the ’90s LeRoy returned to Montana, where his heart called home. In retirement, he drove a school bus during the school year and helped support fire crews in the summer. LeRoy reconnected with longtime friend Eva Thomson. They both were members of Christ Lutheran Church. Together, they camped in their motor home and enjoyed riding 4-wheelers. They were active in the Libby Good Sam Club.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his dear friend, Eva, his parents and his sister, Jean Orsborn.

Survivors include his sister, Mary Reamer of Arizona; his children, Randy (Marci) of Snohomish, Wash., Dixie Hart (Richard) of Puyallup, Wash. and Jeff of Auburn, Wash.; his grandchildren, Jaimee, Weston and Bridget; as well as two great-granddaughters, Presley and Ansley.

A graveside service was held April 15 at the City of Libby Cemetery with Pastor Steve Olson presiding. Because of the health advisories in place, it was a private service for the family only.

A public memorial service will be offered at a later time when social distancing restrictions have been eased or removed.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.