Vernon D. Leiser, 82

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. (retired) Vernon D. Leiser passed away, surrounded by family, on Monday, Oct. 11,  2010, at age 82 following a short illness.

He was born 3 Jan 1928 in Greenwood County, Kan., to Albert Emil and Kathryn Ann (Burger) Leiser, and was the youngest of 11 children.

Vern grew up on a farm on the plains of Kansas during the Great Depression.

His father (who was born just eight years following the end of the Civil War) died when Vern was 6 years old, and he was subsequently raised by his mother and stepfather.

Vern graduated from Lamont (Kansas) High School in 1946, and upon his graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

When the Air Force was created in 1947, he was given the choice of staying with the AAC or transferring over to the newly-created Air Force. He weighed his options and decided that the Air Force was the right fit. This move proved to be the best one for him, because in just 12 short years, he achieved the highest enlisted rank (E9); a feat that in the Air Force of 1958 as well as today, is normally accomplished in 18-20 years and frequently longer.

During his military career, he was known to be strict and mission oriented, but fair. Chief Leiser served in Africa, Japan, Louisiana, and North Dakota.

Following his retirement in 1966, Vern settled in the Priest River area, purchasing 160 acres and building a home near Bear Paw Creek in Snow Valley.

Shortly thereafter, he found employment as a hod-carrier with Fred Lesiak, a local farmer and mason. 

In May 1971, Vern went to work for the U.S. Forest Service.

He was assigned to the Falls Ranger Station until it closed and was then transferred to the Priest Lake Ranger District.

While employed with the Forest Service, Vern worked in the Recreation Department and the Roads Department. He retired from the Forest Service in November 1988.

His retirement years were spent involved in family history, church service (serving as bishop of the Priest River Ward of the LDS Church during the 1970s, as well as numerous other positions).

At the time of his death, he was serving as executive secretary to the bishop.

Vernon Dale Leiser is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and five brothers.

He is survived by his loving wife and companion, Judy, at the family home in Newport; a daughter and two sons, Sandy (and James) of Snowflake, Ariz., Mark (and Michelle) of Hayden, Idaho, and Shane (and Linda) of Twin Falls, Idaho.

He is also survived by four stepchildren, Mark Ford of Hawaii, Craig Ford of Meridian, Bob Ford of Mountain Home, Idaho, and Lynnette Ford of Newport.

Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, and one brother (ages 88, 90 and 94).

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday,  Oct. 16, 2010, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3261 Highway 2, at 11 a.m.

Burial services with military honors from Fairchild Air Force Base will be conducted at the Newport Cemetery immediately following.

Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, from noon to 7 p.m. at Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home and on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to service time at the church.

Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.sherman-knapp.com.