Gerrit Kendall Leppink died on Thursday, May 5, 2005, at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork, at the age of 89.

Gary was born on May 26, 1915, in Isanti, Minn., to John and Emily Leppink. He was the third child in a family of six boys and one girl. He lived in a number of towns in Minnesota until 1928, when his father, employed by the Great Northern Railway, moved the family to Montana, settling in Hedgesville, which was a paradise for a bunch of boys who loved to hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. Gary finished his schooling there, graduating from high school in Hedgesville.

During the Depression years of the 1930's, Gary worked various jobs on ranches and for the railroad. He also ran a trapline, which was much to his liking.

In 1940, Gary joined the National Guard, which was being activated for World War II. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he was deployed to Australia, and later to various areas in the South Pacific, serving in the 41st Infantry Division with two of his brothers, Lloyd and Herman.

Gary returned to Helena, in 1945, where his family had moved during the war years. After working for the government in Helena for a year, he rejoined his old National Guard unit, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He worked in various capacities for the state headquarters of the Montana National Guard until he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1973.

In 1965, he married Shirley Moore, a widow with three children, whom they raised together. In 1975, with the family raised, Gary and Shirley sold their home in Helena, and built their retirement home on the shores of Swan Lake, enjoying golfing, boating, and a variety of community activities there. In recent years, Gary and Shirley have wintered in Mesa, Ariz.

A caring man of gentle strength, who spoke volumes in few words, Gary will be missed by all whose lives he touched, but who know that he is now in a place where his fishing creel will always be full, his putts will always roll true, and his pinochle hand will be full of trump.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ruth Hesselroth; and his brothers, Vernon, Lloyd and Alton.

Gary is survived by his wife, Shirley Leppink, of Swan Lake; their three children, Daniel Moore of Moreno Valley, Calif., Joni Chenoweth of Helena, and David Moore and Virginia Heineman of Seattle; five grandchildren, Cory Chenoweth, Kyle Chenoweth, Megan Moore, Nick Lopez, and Monique Heineman; great-granddaughter, Chloe Davila; his two brothers, Herman Leppink of Seattle, and John Leppink of Helena; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, May 9, at the National Guard Service Club at Fort Harrison, near Helena, and on Tuesday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at the Swan Chapel in Swan Lake. Revs. Ron Pierce and Curtis Wallace will officiate.

The family requests memorials to the Bigfork Quick Response Unit, Bigfork, MT 59911, or the Swan Lake Search and Rescue, Swan Lake, MT 59911.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Gary's family.