Leigh Erland Hansen

Leigh Erland Hansen died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at Life Care nursing home in Sandpoint, Idaho, at the age of 94.

Leigh was born Nov. 30, 1913, in Columbus, Mont., to Anton and Anna Hansen. He was the youngest of five children. Two sisters, Frances and Carrie, and one brother Ralph, have preceded him in death.

He is survived by his brother Claude, who is 101 years old; and a nephew and six nieces. He also is survived by a stepson, Harold (and Karen) Luckey; and a stepdaughter, Claudia (and Dwight) Pelfrey, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Leigh's family moved to Blanchard, Idaho, in 1926 where he finished seventh and eighth grades. He then worked with his father with the farm work and cut cord wood to help out.

Leigh worked several years in Spokane on various jobs including one at Longlake Lumber Co. to help pay off the farm.

Leigh joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as an airplane mechanic in Tucson, Ariz., in Peru, and the Panama Canal Zone guarding the West Coast. He always had an interest reading about the older planes. He was discharged in 1946.

After he returned he stayed on the farm with his parents taking care of them until their deaths in the early 1960s.

Leigh did the farm work and learned the plumbing trade.

He worked for a while with Bob Gibbs Construction installing service stations and later going into private plumbing, heater and furnace work.

He continued in that work until he was in his mid-70s.

He married Madelyn Luckey in Priest River on March 12, 1970.

During their years together they went on several trips around the country. He and Madelyn were married for 34 years until her death in 2004. His retirement wasn't always leisurely because he again became a caregiver for Madelyn for more than 10 years as her health went down.

He is remembered with loving fondness. Those of us who knew Leigh knew him as a quiet man who never tired of reading.

Also, no matter what the weather he was always very faithful meeting the men at 5 a.m. for coffee at the cafe.

We family members want to thank Dr. King and the Life Care personnel for the care they gave Leigh. We also thank Dick and Dixie Howard, Dwain Valez and Nick Lamanna and other friends for their help and care they showed. Thank you.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall on Larch Street in Priest River.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 911 West 5th Ave. Spokane, WA 99204.

Family and friends are invited to visit Leigh's Web site, and sign his guest book, at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.