Leo P. Schillinger, age 84, of Vida, MT passed away December 11, 2009 in Wolf Point.
Leo was born December 8, 1925 to Joseph and Cecelia (Lenz) Schillinger in Wolf Point. He grew up on the family farm in Vida and attended the Schillinger School until his high school years where he attended Wolf Point High School for three years and then graduated from Circle High School.
Leo was drafted into the US Army in November 1944 and served in the 90th Infantry, landing in Europe after D-Day. He was a Staff Sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge in August 1946. He received the Bronze Star, the Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany, the European Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Following the war he attended Montana State College in Bozeman studying mathematics for 1 ½ years when his father became ill and Leo returned home to farm.
Leo married Beverly FitzSimmons on October 27, 1951 at the Wolf Point Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. They were blessed with three children, Loren, Dale and Marilyn.
Leo joined the Knights of Columbus in 1951 and was also an Elks Club Member for over 50 years, a member of the Circle Post 4813 Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a life time member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Vida. He also served on the State Tax Appeals Board.
Leo is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly of Vida, sons Loren Schillinger of Cheyenne, WY and Dale (Jeanne) Schillinger of Spokane, WA; daughter Marilyn (Bill) Pettit of Sheridan, WY; grandchildren Ryne Schillinger, Eric Schillinger, Scott Pettit, Stephanie Pettit, and Amy Pettit; brother Allan (Shirley) Schillinger of Vida; and sister Joan Goodale of Circle.
Visitation will be 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, December 17, 2009 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wolf Point. Interment with military honors will follow at Vida Community Cemetery. A reception will follow burial at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Vida.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.