Joann Leu

1933 - 2025

Joann Leu

January 15, 1933 - October 8, 2025

On October 8th, Joann Marie Leu, 92 of Clancy Montana, passed from this world to the next due natural causes. Born to Bernice and Ned Debree on January 15, 1933, spending her early years on the family ranch in Birdseye, she and her three younger sisters moved with their mother to East Helena after her father passed away when Joann was six years old. During her teen years, she learned to cook, sew, grow a garden, and milk a cow. These skills would stand her in good sted for the next season of her life at age 17 when she met a shy. handsome rancher named Harold and they eloped on June 6, 1950. They spend 72 years together until Harold passed away in January, 2023.

Married life began in a one room cabin on the ranch where together they built a log home, raised cattle, chickens, and turkeys. Joann assisted with calving, milking, haying, and threshing. In addition, Joann planted and harvested a large garden, flowers, and sold eggs, milk, and chickens to customers in Helena. Along the way they welcomed three children: Russell, Karen, and Cindy.

Because the family ranch was 10 miles from Clancy, the children spent their early school years in East Helena with their grandmother Bernice. As a result, with increased elementary school enrollment, a school bus route was created on Lump Gulch. Harold and Joann bid on the contract to operate a school bus. After driving a 9 passenger International Travelall for 5 years, they traveled to Lima, Ohio to purchase a 30-passenger school bus which they operated for 10 years.

After retiring from ranching in 1980, Harold and Joann spent many years traveling to several states, often in their fifth wheel trailer including Alaska for deep sea fishing, North Dakota for October Fest, and the New England states in the Fall. International travel included countries in Europe, especially Switzerland where generations of the Leu family originated. Their travels also brought together Joann's three sisters and their spouses to enjoy some of the adventures and great extended family and friends camping at the Travis Creek School. Harold and Joann were long time members of the Clancy Methodist Church and made many longtime friends there as well as members of the Masons and Eastern Star.

Joann was preceded in death by the love of her life Harold, her parents, sisters Ruth and Joyce, and is survived by her youngest sister Carol Ellison. In addition, she is survived by her three children: Russell, (Carrie) Karen (Darrell Miller), and Cindy. Joann was blessed with seven grandchildren: Lindsey Williams, Ryan Leu, Jennifer Bergmann, Melissa Hughes, Britni Miller, Erica Pekny, Andrea Miller, and eight great grandchildren. A special thanks to the staff of Son Heaven for their loving care of Joann while she was in residence there. A family gathering will be held at a later date.

Simple Cremation Montana

315 E Sixth Avenue

Helena, MT 59601

(406)410-1321