Earl Peter Leighty, 89, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 at

the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

 He

was born one of 20 children to Bradford and Pearl Leighty in their

home in the Deer Park area of the Flathead Valley on Jan. 30, 1922.

He completed first through eighth grade at Deer Park School and

then quit school to go to work to help support the family.

Earl married the love of his life, Mary Carr, in 1942 and the

couple lived in Kalispell and had twin sons, Sam and Dan. They were

busy chasing two rambunctious red headed boys.

Earl worked in the lumber industry until he was drafted into the

Army in 1944 and served in the Pacific. He was wounded in Okinawa

and received a Purple Heart; was honorably discharged in 1946 after

the war ended and came back to Kalispell and worked in the lumber

industry again. In 1952 they moved to Evergreen where he worked at

Montana Saw Service and then at Rollies Machine Works until his

retirement. He was known as Red by everyone he worked with and was

highly respected in the valley. Earl enjoyed his work.

They raised a big garden, milked cows, and had chickens on their

little spread until their boys grew up and graduated from high

school. In the early 1980’s Earl and Mary started going to the

local Saturday Farmers Market and continued until about three years

ago when Earl’s health would not permit him to continue. He served

on the Board of the Kalispell Farmers Market. This was a great time

for socializing with old friends and making new ones. For a time

they also attended the Tuesday evening Kalispell Market and also

the market in Whitefish on Thursdays.

He

loved to hunt and fish with his boys, his dad and father-in-law in

his earlier years. Going to sports activities of the twins, in

their school years, was very important to him.

Faith and family were important to Earl. He was an active member of

Faith Alliance Church and had served on the board of the church in

Evergreen. He was also on the board of Dickey Lake Bible Camp for

many years.

Earl was preceded in death by his son Dan in 2011, his parents, 11

brothers and sisters and one granddaughter. He is survived by his

wife of 69 years, Mary, son Sam and wife Sandy, daughter-in-law

Diana, six grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, one great-great

granddaughter and eight brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at 2 p.m. at

Faith Alliance Church, 348 second Ave. West, Kalispell. Internment

will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on

Tuesday prior to the service from 9 a.m. until noon at

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Earl’s

family. You are invited to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Earl’s

tribute wall, offer condolences or share memories.