Leo Wilson, 89

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Leo R. Wilson, 89, of Nampa, formerly of Wendell, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at a local care center.

Graveside services were held Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the Wendell Cemetery in Wendell. Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Leo was born on Jan. 17, 1918, in Lambert, Okla., to Thomas and Alice (Rost) Wilson. He attended school in Oklahoma.

He married Colleen Beadz on Dec. 18, 1937, in Eden, Idaho.

Leo worked as a laborer, doing custom grain thrashing, and was drafted into the Army in 1942, where he served for two years.

In 1944 the couple moved to Castle Rock, Wash., and in 1946 they moved back to Idaho and started to farm south of Wendell. They then moved to Seattle where Leo worked for Boeing Aircraft in 1957, then they moved back to Wendell where he worked for Bradshaw Three Bears Honey for a short time.

In 1959 Leo started with the Forest Service as a packer. He retired from the Forest Service in Challis in 1972.

Leo was a member of the American Legion Post in Wendell.

Leo is survived by: his wife, Colleen N. Wilson of Grand View; his daughter, Caroline, and her husband, Leon Nielson, of Grand View; his son, Russell, and his wife, Gaye Wilson, of Arizona; his sister, Mildred Arndt of Oklahoma' seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers.