Leonard "Barney" J. Barnes

Leonard J. Barnes was born into the pioneer Barnes and Yuhas Families of the Helena Valley. He was born October 19, 1919 in Helena, the son of Bernard Huber and Helen Yuhas Barnes. He was raised north of Helena in the Wolf Creek Canyon area, attending Wolf Creek and Mitchell Schools. He attended Craig High School. Enlisting in the Navy on October 1, 1940, he gained his nickname of "Barney", by which he was known for the rest of his life. Barney attended Hospital Corps School in San Diego and Field Service School, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force at Camp Elliott, California. He transferred to Mobile Hospital #2 at Pearl Harbor in the fall of 1941, where he became a Pearl Harbor survivor on December 7th. After Pearl, he was sent to serve in New Zealand until he returned to the States to serve at Oak Knoll Hospital in Oakland, California. He was discharged on March 22, 1945. He was a life member of the VFW and the DAV. On a blind date, he met Catherine Ellen Stinebaugh, a pretty red-headed student nurse. They were married on July 7, 1941. She was his companion for 59 years until her death in 2000. Barney was a pharmacist in Oregon, Alaska and Washington before retiring in 1964. He and Kay traveled in their motorhome for several years before settling in the Helena Valley. Camping, boating, fishing and hunting were his most favorite activities. Barney passed away on May 19, 2017 at the Deer Lodge Medical Center. He was 97 years old and lived in Garrison during the summer and Mesa, Arizona during the winter. Barney was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, a brother, Clifford and his sister, Clara Smith. He is survived by his son, Jim Barnes (JoAnne) of Garrison; his daughter, Karen (John) Hartling of Monument, CO; two grandsons, Sean (Pam) Hartling of Monument, CO, and Patrick Hartling of Palmer Lake, CO; his brother-in-law, Otto (Bud) Smith of Helena; his special companion and care-giver, Chris Read of Garrison and Mesa; six great-grandchildren and two nephews. Cremation has occurred and a memorial service will be held at a later date at the Veteran' s Cemetery at Ft. Harrison in Helena.