Obituary - Lila Mae (Felton) Leeds

Lila Mae (Felton) Leeds, 97, passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at her home in Northern Montana Care Center in Havre.

Lila was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Harvey and Hester Leeds; her husband, John, in 1996, and her sister Peg Fuglevand in 1988. Her sister Ann Bain of Everett, Washington, passed away Sunday, Oct. 20, three days after Lila.

She is survived by her sister Bea Molitor of Havre; sisters-in-law Ann Leeds and Kathy Leeds; children, Frank (Gail) of Seattle, Teresa (Eric) Olson of Havre, Joe (Denise) of Las Vegas, Ray (Annette) of Helena, Margaret (Todd) Donoven of Kremlin, Tim (Jodene) Leeds of Havre and Dan (Beverly) of Los Angeles.

She is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews and her NMCC family.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at Grace Chapel in Northern Montana Care Center with Deacon Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Lila was born Feb. 13, 1927, to Bill and Georgia (LaSalle) Felton. She was raised with her three sisters on the family ranch in the Bear Paw Mountains south of Havre. They rode horseback three miles to the Faber School each day.

One of her favorite memories was playing house under the willows with her sisters Bea and Ann, preparing tea for their delightful friend Mrs. Kingkonky.

Lila graduated from Havre High School in 1944 and attended Northern Montana College to pursue a degree in elementary education. She was hired to teach at Faber School after one year of college, with the promise she would compete her degree in the summers. She did graduate from Northern and continued to take summer courses at University of Montana in Missoula.

She taught at various rural schools in Hill, Blaine and Chouteau Counties and, toward the end of raising her family, returned to teaching at rural schools in the 1970s and ’80s.

In December of 1954, Lila met John Leeds on a blind date set up by Lila’s sister Peg and John’s sister-in-law Patty Leeds. They were quite the matchmakers, and Lila and John were married the following June at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. The church was filled with lilacs that Lila’s dad and sister Ann gathered from the Kinsella Ranch in the Bear Paws.

Lila enjoyed raising a large garden, quilting, and, of course, babies.

She cast her final ballot for president five days before she died when a care center staffmember rushed her ballot to her on Sunday. It was Lila’s 79th time voting.

The family would like thank all of the staff at Northern Montana Care Center for their loving care of Lila for the last 10 1/2 years. They provide her with unconditional love and an endless supply of ice water.

In lieu of memorials, the family would like you to honor both their mom and dad by doing something kind for someone in need.