Leslie was born to Carl and Gertdina (Vanderhayden) Frank on February 12, 1938 at Agawam, Montana. His father passed away when he was two years old. They lived in many places where his mother traveled to cook in various restaurants, she taught him to cook everything and he did very well at it. He graduated from Butte High in 1956. He joined the United States Army where he made lifelong friends. Following his discharge, he worked for many different road crews and construction companies. He then attended the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and joined the Montana State Highway Patrol in 1973, a job that he loved, and he retired from there in 1999.
He married his high school sweetheart and they had two sons, Les and David, he also has two grandsons, Matthew and Jonathan who he loved more than anything.
He later met and married his best friend and the love of his life Loveta Crabtree and became a second father to her two children. They had 31 wonderful years together and would have celebrated their 25th Anniversary and they were going to renew their wedding vows.
He died on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Community Hospital of Anaconda peacefully with his wife holding him.
He is survived by his wife, Loveta, step-children, Misty (DJ) Canter, Danny (Becky) Hanson, grandchildren, Matthew Frank, Aubrie (Keith) Nebeker, Caleb (Natalie) Nebeker, Demitry, Ambrosia, Dominic, Danny Joe Hanson, James and Sissy May Canter, great-granddaughter, Katlyn Frank and soon to be born Iyla, and a sister, Edith Garwich, mother-in-law JoAnn Crabtree, and his dog who was his co-pilot Zack. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Lorraine, Katherin, Caroline; brother, Henry, and a grandson, Jonathan.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Anaconda Elks Lodge on Thursday, April 12, 2018. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the services at the Elks Lodge. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery with the Montana Highway Patrol Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Montana Hope Project, P.O. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604 or Pintler Pets P.O. Box 1204, Anaconda, MT, 59711.
Visitation
APR
12.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (MDT)
Anaconda Elks Lodge
221 Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
Funeral Service
APR
12.
2:00 PM (MDT)
Anaconda Elks Lodge
221 Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711