Dennis Ray Leonard

Dennis Ray Leonard, 78, of Idaho Falls, passed away November 27, 2023, at his daughter’s home in Ammon, Idaho of cancer. He was under the care of his loving family and Solace Hospice.

Dennis was born February 4, 1945, in Rigby, Idaho, to Ercel Gilbert Leonard and Nina May Rawle Leonard. He grew up and attended schools in Rigby until the family moved to Ririe, his Senior year of high school. After high school he hauled milk and also served, for a time, in the Army National Guard.

On February 28, 1969, he married Thail Yvonne Rumsey in the Idaho Falls Temple. Dennis and Thail made their home in Ucon where they raised their children, Paul, Chad, Sheri, Blair, and Kristen. Dennis worked as a Print Technician at the Naval Reactor Facility (NRF). He also loved being a volunteer at EIRMC driving the parking lot shuttle.

Dennis had a tremendous love of the outdoors. This began at an early age while living next to the Burgess Canal in the Clark/Rigby area. The canal is where he taught himself to swim, and learned to surf with a board tied to the bridge. Throughout his life, he could be found on a creek, lake or any puddle big enough to hold a fish. He especially enjoyed fishing with his boys and lifelong friend, Errol Landon. His hobbies include camping, fishing, dutch oven cooking, ATV riding, rock hunting and anything else outdoors. If he had to be indoors, he enjoyed playing cards and always said it was something to keep our hands busy while we visited. We believe he was the inventor of Dad jokes and had a joke ready at any given time. He truly loved to make people laugh.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a Ward Clerk, Elders Quorum President, Sunday School Teacher, and in the Boy Scouts. Dennis also loved being in the ward choir.

Dennis is survived by his children, Paul (Susan) Leonard of Ucon, ID, Chad (Sheri) Leonard of Ucon, ID, Sheri (Dave) Brasier of Ammon, ID, Blair (Stephanie) Leonard of Syracuse, UT, and Kristen (Jason) Haws of Ammon, ID; sisters, Nina Chapple of Pahrump, NV, Celia (Tom) Whitehouse of Boiling Springs, SC, and Jennie (Ron) Blunck of Mountain Green, UT; 19 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Thail Leonard; parents, Gib and Nina Leonard; brothers, Terry and Mark Leonard; parents-in-law, Blaine and Fern Rumsey; and multiple brothers-in law and sisters-in-law.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the Ucon Stake Center, 2967 East 105 North, with Bishop Russ Donahoo of the Ucon Homestead Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road, and Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Ucon Cemetery.

Services will be broadcast live here.