Leonard Neal Atkinson, age 70, a retired telephone technician from Sweet Grass, passed away due to lung cancer Monday, March 27, 2006 at his home in Sweet Grass with his loving wife Delia and his faithful cat, Jack Pot Callie at his side.  His memorial service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 1^st at the Sunburst Methodist Church.  Private family burial of ashes will be held at a later date in Sweet Grass Cemetery.  Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences can be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.

Survivors include his wife Delia of Sweet Grass; a son, Leonard “Leo” (Brenda) Atkinson, Jr. of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Patrick J. Atkinson of Columbia, S.C. and Sheila M. (Kevin) Hawkins of Knoxville, TN; his siblings, Tom Atkinson of Wapato, WA, Barry (Josie) Atkinson of Sacramento, CA, Barbara (Jack) Monroe of Kevin, MT, Shirley (Bill) Sparvier of Lethbridge, AB, Rita (Martin Sveum) Christoferson of Sunburst, Bertha (Leo) Lee of Helena, Betty Bykonen of Helena and his faithful cat, Jack Pot Callie as well as 21 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Isabel (Ashworth) Atkinson; siblings, Doris Robinson, Clarence Atkinson and Gerald Atkinson and brothers-in-law, Allan “Red” Bykonen and Alvin Christoferson.

He was born July 24, 1935 in Belt to Felix and Isabel (Ashworth) Atkinson.  After graduating from Sunburst High School in 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and attended the Army Security Agency School at Ft. Devens, Mass.  After his discharge in 1956, he worked for Western Geophysical Co. and graduated from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, IL in 1959.  From 1960-64, he worked for Zane’s Radio and TV in Malta and the Radio Clinic in Shelby.  In 1964, he went to work for Northern Telephone Cooperative in Sunburst as an Outside Plant Technician where he worked until his retirement in 1996. 

He married Loretta Koepke in 1958, they divorced in 1972.  He married Delia Bunyak Thomas of Seattle, WA in 1973. 

He was a member of the Sweet Grass American Legion Border Post #73, serving as Post Commander from 1980-82 and 1995-97 and as Amer. Legion District #3 Commander from 1987-88.  He went to Boys State in 1953 and handled that program for a number of years as it was very important to him.  He was also a member of the Sunburst Fire Department for a number of years starting in the 1960’s. 

He was a current member of the Community/County Water/Sewer District board and the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority.  He joined the Sweet Grass Methodist Church in 1986 and was currently a member of the church’s Board of Directors, the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee for the Shelby/Oilfield Parish, the Sweet Grass Bible Study Group and served on the Oilfield Parish Council for 15 years.  Church was very important to Leonard and he particularly enjoyed his bible study group and maintaining the church grounds. 

Leonard enjoyed going to the Sunburst Senior Center, reading, traveling, playing cards, attending auction sales and hunting when he was younger.  He loved his home and acreage, which he turned into a park-like setting, and enjoyed the view of the Sweet Grass Hills it afforded them.  He liked to go metal locating in the countryside on his ATV and loved feeding the birds and deer that visited their home.  Family was also very important to Leonard, being very close to his brothers and sisters.  He said his greatest blessings in life were his wife, Delia and their life together, his son, and his home and acreage and the Love of God.  He was a kind and gentle man who will be remembered as a loyal friend.

The family suggests memorials to the Sweet Grass Methodist Church, Peace Hospice of Montana, 1101 26^th St. South, Great Falls, MT 59405 or the Intermountain Children’s Home and Services, 500 S. Lamborn St., Helena, MT 59601.

 Click here to send a condolence to the family.