Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Laurus Lehwalder Obituary
Tempe - Laurus Waldemar Lehwalder of Tempe, Arizona passed away on June 5, 2018. He was born the tenth child of Arthur Richard Wilhelm and Florence Mildred (Christen) Lehwalder on April 23, 1930 in Butte, Montana.
He was a child of Montana, exploring and hiking the Highlands until he left home to attend Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Following graduation he served in the U.S. Navy (1952-1955) as an operations officer on the USS Magoffin. He was in Danang and Saigon just after the French were defeated, and took part in refugee evacuations from the north after Vietnam was partitioned.
Laurus attended Columbia University Medical School, where he met Marilyn Rockwood; they married on April 1, 1958. After he obtained his M.D., he and his family lived in Dahlgren, Virginia, then moved to Hanover while he completed his residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. After a short time in Quincy, Illinois the family settled in Missoula, Montana where Laurus opened the ophthalmology practice he would own until his retirement.
Soon after the move back to Montana, the family built their cabin retreat in the Flint Creek Range, which gave Laurus numerous ways to be active and innovative. He was a tinkerer, amateur radio operator, a rockhound and gem faceter, a camper, hiker/explorer ("it's just over that hill"), an optimist ("it's clearing in the West!"), a voracious reader, and a clear thinker even in the end. He and Marilyn traveled extensively before seeking out the Arizona warmth during those cold Montana winters. Yet though he transitioned to Arizona in his later years, his family will always remember him in Montana.
Laurus is survived by: his spouse, Marilyn (Rockwood) Lehwalder; his children, Laurie (Dennis) Higgins, Melanie (Mike) Postich, and David (Carol Hausauer) Lehwalder; by three grandchildren, Derek Loens (Jenna) Higgins, William Lehwalder (Elizabeth) Higgins, and Sydney Leigh Higgins; by three great-grandchildren, Finleigh Lehwalder Higgins, Dylan John Higgins, and Hayes Laurus Higgins; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings - Philip Heine Lehwalder, Margaret Jane Clemons, Barbara Christen Berry, Arthur Robert Lehwalder, Phoebe Ferris Bee, David Christen Lehwalder, Ruth Elizabeth Fechter, Marcus Matthias Lehwalder (age 12), and Daphne Arthrice Lehwalder (infancy) - who have welcomed him into their waiting arms. Celebration of Life is to be held in Tempe for friends and family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Laurus Lehwalder
6 Entries
Buford Suffridge
July 23, 2025
I cannot ad to anything I've already written. Laurus and I were close friends and colleagues and I think of him often. I so wish he could have lived to see this second Trump administration because he's doing the very things Laurus and I hoped that someday someone would. We exchanged emails on a regular basis for years and of course I miss those.
Buford Suffridge
July 23, 2021
I often think of Laurus and the many good times we shared, both professionally and socially. Laurus and I thought alike, were of the same mind and were two of a kind and I miss our email exchanges. Lynda and I cherish the last visit we had with Laurus and Marilyn when they stopped in North Little Rock on one of their many journeys. We had dinner that evening and shared a lot of laughter and memories.
Buford Suffridge
August 3, 2018
I just learned of Laurus' death and I'm so sorry. He and I served together as the medical and dental officers for the Naval Reserve Seabee Brigade back in the late 80's and we remained friends and kept in touch for all those years since. I had been attempting to contact Laurus by email for several months and had wondered why he was not responding. He was a great friend, great man and we enjoyed many good times together, during our service and afterwards. Marilyn, Lynda and I send our most heart felt condolences to you and the entire family.
July 31, 2018
To the Lehwalder Family: My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends during this difficult time. I hope that the promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 can bring comfort. Knowing that there's a hope for the ones we have lost in death can be so reassuring.
July 30, 2018
Great friend at P&S where he gave me needed support.
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results
Make a Donation
in Laurus Lehwalder's name
Memorial Events
for Laurus Lehwalder
How to support Laurus's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Laurus Lehwalder's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
