Leonard H. McKinney

BILLINGS - Leonard H. McKinney, 77, an attorney and Navy veteran, died of complica-tions from surgery Sunday in Billings.
A rosary is 7 p.m. Thursday at Smith Funeral Chapel in Billings. Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Friday at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Smith Funeral Home is in charge of cremation.
Leonard is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Beverly (Briscoe) McKinney; his brother, Aaron Thomas (Kathy) McKinney; his five children, Michael (Teri) McKinney of Caldwell, Idaho, Tim (Peg) McKinney of Laurel, Kathleen (Pete) Portra of Billings, Marcia McKinney of Minneapolis and Patrick (Tanya) McKinney of Maple Valley, Wash. He is also survived by eight grandchildren whom he loved deeply: Scot, Jake, Michelle, Aaron, Nicole, Troy, Dusty and Luke; an aunt, Bernice Fletcher of Helena; and numerous cousins. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Leonard, also known to his friends and family as "Skinny" and "Mac," was born on May 6, 1929, in Salt Lake City, to Leonard H. McKinney and Minnie Myrtle (Gummow) McKinney. Leonard was raised in Helena. He attended high school and played football for the Helena High Bengals.
Leonard played in the first Mon-tana East-West Shrine game. He attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., where he played football and was a member of Beta Theta Pi. After graduating from college, Leonard volunteered for the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War on the USS Princeton. After returning to the United States, he attended law school at the University of Montana and graduated in 1957.
Leonard met Beverly Briscoe in the spring of 1953, and a love- and joy-filled marriage began Sept. 17, 1955. After law school, they moved to Poplar, where Leonard began his law practice. Four years later, they moved to Lewistown, where they made their home, and Leonard continued to practice law until 1994. Leonard and Beverly moved to Billings in 1998.
During Leonard's law career, he served in the county attorneys' offices of Fergus and Petroleum Counties. He also served as city attorney in Poplar and Lewistown. He was appointed to the Hard Rock Mining board by Gov. Ted Schwin-den, and he also served on the Montana Bar Association Commis-sion on Practice. He was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He en-joyed golfing and friendships at the Elks Club and enjoyed following all the activities of his five children.
Leonard was a devoted and lov-ing husband, father and grandfa-ther. He had friends too numerous to count. He will be remembered for his devotion to his family, the little songs that he sang that fit into any and nearly every conversation, and his humor. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He had a generous spirit that will be truly missed!
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Marcia Jean and Wanda.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church in Billings, where Leonard found his comfort in the Lord.
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