Leland G. Garrison

Leland G. Garrison, Jr. 82 passed away Thursday evening, May 30th, 2019, in St. John's Nursing Home in Billings of natural causes.  He was born July 25, 1936 in Bonham, TX the son of Leland G. and Mary Bell (Safford) Garrison, Sr.  He received his schooling in Bonham, graduating from Bonham High School.  He then entered the U.S. Navy in June of 1954 serving until June of 1957 when he received his Honorable Discharge in San Diego, CA.  After discharge, he worked in San Diego as an electrician.  He was united in marriage to Sharon Pilot in San Diego in 1959, they later divorced.  In 1960 he went to work as a conductor stationed in Needles, CA for Santa Fe Railroad (later known as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad  BNSF) and they moved to Mohave Valley, AZ.   On August 29, 1975 he was united in marriage to Donna Mae Moore in Las Vegas, NV.  They lived in Mohave Valley, AZ.  He retired in 1998 and in 1999 they moved to Lewistown, Montana.  They made their home in Lewistown until July of 2017 when they moved to Billings, Montana.  He entered St. John's Nursing Home earlier this year.

Leland loved to ride motorcycles, build model airplanes, have coffee at McDonald's, visit at the Eagle Club, and he loved cruising on the ocean.  Leland and Donna enjoyed touring on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, in addition to the many cruises they were able to enjoy together.  Asked once if there was anything he would change in his life if he could, he answered, "I would not change anything after meeting my wife, Donna."

He was a member of Faith Chapel in Billings, the Eagles and Elks Lodges of Lewistown, and Fergus Post #16 American Legion of Lewistown.  Lee was a 32nd Degree Mason and a former member of the Al Malaikah Temple of Los Angles, a division of the Shriners.
He is survived by his wife Donna of Billings, MT; son John Garrison of Chula Vista, CA; daughter Leandra Pearson of Apple Valley, CA; step-daughter Valerie L.S. Tansley of Dana Point, CA; step-son Grant L. Stewart of Maple Grove, MN; seven grandchildren, one great grandson and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son Gilbert, one brother Robert, and his parents.

Private Memorial Services for Leland G. Garrison, Jr. will be held later this summer in California.  Committal will take place at a later date in Central Montana Memorial Gardens in Lewistown.  The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Friends are asked to make memorials to the charity of their choice and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home.  Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.