Leonard Leroy Williams, 76, of Wenatchee, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, October 29, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born September 9, 1933, in St. Ignatius, MT, to Jacque Leland and Rosalie Carmelita (Ashley) Williams. He attended the Villa Ursulines Catholic School in St. Ignatius and other schools on the Flathead Reservation. In the fall of 1940, the family moved to Grand Coulee, WA, where his father worked on the Grand Coulee Dam and his mother cooked in the local restaurants. He graduated from Grand Coulee High School in 1952. He was a Veteran of the United States Army (1953-1956), Army Reserves (1956-1958) and of the United States Navy (1958-1959). He was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Indian Tribes of the Flathead Reservation in Montana. He met the love of his life, Virginia Overbey, in Electric City, after he was discharged from the Navy. They were married in Coeur d'Alene, ID on November 5, 1959. Leonard worked construction at several of the dams on the Columbia River, before going to work at Alcoa in 1965. He was an Equipment Operator at Alcoa and known as "Chief" until his retirement in 1996. Leonard enjoyed fishing at Lake Roosevelt with his fishing buddy, Jake. He and Virginia also attended many Blue Grass Festivals in their RV. His greatest joy was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Len was an exceptional father and grandfather. He will also be remembered as being kind to anyone and everyone he met. We will all miss his smile and jokes and his endless help and patience with Virginia's honey-do-lists over the past 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Fred and Dick Williams; and one sister, Rose Ellen Hall. His survivors include his wife, Virginia, at home; sons, Ted (Maria) of Nice, CA, Lenny (TerriLynn) of Woodinville, Ron (Rozy) of Wenatchee and Fred of Wenatchee; daughters, Christy Such of East Wenatchee, Marci Williams of Anchorage, AK and Vickie Williams of Dutch Harbor, AK; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank Dr. David Notter, his staff and the "chemo" girls at Wenatchee Valley Clinic, for all of their patience, love and compassion over these past several months.

A Commemoration Service will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at Heritage Memorial Chapel, 19 Rock Island Road, East Wenatchee, with Pastor Kel Groseclose officiating. A time of reception will follow at the Virgil Hutchinson Hall, 180 Rock Island Road, East Wenatchee. A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, November 6, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. in the Spring Canyon Cemetery at Grand Coulee. Please sign in or leave a memory for the family online by visiting www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.