Stephen Paul Leonhardt, 75, of Riverton, Wyoming, passed away on September 6, 2024, after a prolonged battle with cancer. He will be remembered for many things, but his beaming smile and larger-than-life laugh are atop the list. Memories of a father who taught us to hunt, took us fishing, and always had a terrible joke ready, comes to mind. We recall the scenes of the grandfather who changed the channel to a favored cartoon as soon as his grandchildren walked into the house, preparing popcorn bowls filled high with his freshly popped buttery corn and candy all around. Afternoons spent in his garage, where he made sure each grandchild had their very own tool, even sharing his prized Snap-Ons, are treasured memories. Steve will certainly be fondly remembered and sorely missed.
Services will be at Davis Funeral Home in Riverton, Wyoming on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery. Steve’s celebration of life will continue with a reception luncheon at the Elks.
A public viewing will be held the evening before on Friday, September 20, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Davis Funeral Home in Riverton, Wyoming.
Steve was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on July 5, 1949, to George Paul Leonhardt and Pauline (Easton) Leonhardt. He was the second child and the eldest son of five children. Steve grew up on the family farm in Missouri Valley and was an integral part of the family dairy. He was a member of the Pavillion FFA, showed beef calves, and ran track. Steve was a confirmed member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. He graduated from Pavillion High School and attended Casper College. He married Christine Gard and had three children: Stephanie, Shannon, and Matthew.
He loved cars and had a gift for mechanics. While at Casper College he purchased a ’67, butternut yellow, Chevy Nova Super Sport. He took the motor and transmission apart, stripping it to bare bones. He rebuilt it from scratch into a dragster in his cousin Laurin’s shop alongside his Uncle Carl. Four months later, Steve took his Nova to Riverview Road; he beat everyone he raced that day. That car has been retired from racing for some time; the memories remain as it sits peacefully undisturbed under a cloth tarp.
Steve loved farming and spent some time as a hand on a couple of farms in western Nebraska, including the Dillman Farm. His roots ran deep in Wyoming, however, so he returned to his hometown and his penchant for mechanics. Steve worked for Lucky Mc Mines from the day they opened their shop. He continued in the Uranium mines working on heavy equipment after Lucky Mc closed its doors. He moved on to different auto mechanic positions throughout the community, ending his career at Fremont County Maintenance where he kept the ambulances and sheriff’s rigs in working order.
He enjoyed hunting with his bird dogs from opening season until the cold settled in. All told, he had five English Pointers, an Irish Settler, and a German Shorthair. He said there was nothing better than hunting behind a good bird dog. In addition to hunting, he always made time for a little fishing up on Limestone Mountain, which usually included a little off-roadin’. Never did he meet a dirt road he was afraid to go down. Little known fact to Wyomingites, Nebraska dirt roads are much smoother to travel than their paved roads. It must be true because Steve always said so when he started down a dirt road. He loved music, classic Rock-n-Roll: Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, CCR, Bob Seger, Don McLean, Billy Joe, Elton John…the list goes on. If he was out working in the garage, his tunes were playing.
Steve’s memory will be cherished by his children, Stephanie (Jerome) Hutchison, Shannon (Jeff) Carruth, and Matt (Beth) Leonhardt; 11 grandchildren, Rebekah Hutchison, Rachel (Teron) Doebele, Anna Hutchison, Nathan Hutchison, Sarah Hutchison, Aaron Hutchison, Ian (Cami Bonella) Carruth, Sean Carruth, Liam Carruth, Zöe Carruth, Keagan Carruth; sister, Debbie (Tad) McMillan; brothers, Greg (Lori) Leonhardt, Kurt (Janay) Leonhardt; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Chris Leonhardt, father, Paul Leonhardt, mother, Pauline Leonhardt, his sister, Sandy Odde, nephews, Lance Huber and Brock Leonhardt, and niece, Lynsie Leonhardt.
On-line condolences for Steve may be made at TheDavisFuneralHom.com
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments.