Leslie John Benz

February 15, 1930 - July 19, 2018

Leslie John Benz passed away July 19, 2018. He was born in Butte on February 15, 1930 in the old Murray Hospital, the only child of Henry and Viola (Goodnaugh) Benz. Les went to Webster Grade School and graduated from Butte High School in 1949. He worked for Wilson Motor Company and Wellman Motor in the Automobile Parts Department. He was employed at Firestone Tire Company until 1963 at which time he went to work at Maichel’s Car Market as manager of the parts department. In 1969 he started working for the Montana Power Company in the gas department and retired from there in 1993 as foreman in the gas meter shop. He built and flew model airplanes, a hobby he started in grade school and enjoyed all his life. He belonged to the “Butte Plane Nuts” and played baseball on the “Miners” team where he made many friends. He like to ice skate and played semi-pro hockey with the “Canadian Leafs” team. He enjoyed bowling and belonged to two teams in the 1960’s. He like to play cards and checkers and spending time with his friends. He enjoyed the outdoors and boating on Georgetown Lake and Silver Lake, camping and fishing on the Madison River, Big Hole and Georgetown. Les enjoyed woodworking and built many beautiful clocks for himself, family and friends. He enjoyed doing yard work and landscaped and planted over 100 trees and shrubs in his yard at their home on Timber Butte. In 1998 ill health forced them to sell their home and move into a townhouse where he lived until his death. Les and Bonnie J. Buckley were married on October 14, 1960 in the Immaculate Conception Church. They were best friend and constant companions for 58 years. She survives. Other survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, James M. “Mike” and Gail Buckley of St. Louis and Rollins, MT and their family Shannon Cotton, James Buckley Jr. and Colleen and their families. His extended family includes Gary and Dala Lean and their families, Kurt Lean and Lisa Anzik as well as cousins in Michigan and Wisconsin. He is also survived by many good friends and neighbors. He will be sadly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Viola Benz and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Virginia and Emmett Buckley. “You had a wonderful life and now your journey has ended. Rest in peace, till we meet again.”