Richard Leep, 78

Richard Leep, 78, passed away on Dec. 27, 2006 after an extended battle with Cancer.

He was born on May 3, 1928 in Baker, Ore., and spent most of his childhood in the Pacific Northwest.

He lived in Bonners Ferry while attending 7th and 8th grade at Northside Elementary and considered it his hometown.

He moved to Pacific City, Ore. in 1942, where he met the love of his life, Clarinda Hammell.

He served as a Signalman in the Navy during WWII.

In 1946, he married Clarinda and attended school at an extension of Oregon State College. In 1947, they moved to Bozeman where he attended Montana State College and graduated in 1952 with a degree in Engineering Physics.

Richard's career took him around the country, working for Bell Telephone Laboratories in New Jersey, duPont's Savannah River Plant in South Carolina, Southwest Research in Texas, and finally, in 1965, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in New Mexico, where he retired in 1990.

Richard was an avid skier and also enjoyed many years of hunting, fishing, hiking, and windsurfing.

When the Leep home was destroyed by a "controlled burn" in May of 2000, they headed north for a new start.

It was a natural migration back to his 'hometown' of Bonners Ferry where Richard and Clarinda have lived since September 2000.

He loved his new home and beautiful property in Paradise Valley.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Helen Leep.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Clarinda; son and daughter-in-law, Rich and Deb Leep of Republic, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Jim Lublin of Naples, Idaho; daughter Teri Leep of Bonners Ferry; nephew Max Whittington of Beaverton, Ore.; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Barbara Leep of Eureka, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law Rowena and Gerry Hughes of Troutdale, Ore.; one grandson, two granddaughters, one great-granddaughter, two great-grandsons, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends and special neighbors.

The family wishes to thank the Boundary County Extended Care Facility and Bonner Community Hospice and their nurses, CNA's, and social workers for their loving care and support during Richard's illness.

Arrangements will be handled by Lakeview Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Sandpoint.

A private memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at the family home.