Leslie "Les" Gard

Leslie (Les) Ray Gard, 56, of Great Falls passed away Saturday, April 5, 2014 from complications due to cancer at Peace Hospice of Montana. Les’s ashes will be laid to rest next to his wife, Yvonne, in Landusky, MT on Thursday, June 12, 2014. Services will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Landusky Community Center. Les, the youngest of four sons, was born August 1, 1957, in Goldsboro, NC to Clifton and Susan Gard. His father was military so Les and his brothers lived in many different states and towns during their youth. The family finally moved to Glasgow where Les graduated high school. Les attended Montana State University as a Chemistry major and a member of the wrestling team. He left MSU to pursue a career with the railroad, where he worked for 30 years. His career led him to meet Yvonne Kolczak, whom he married in 1996. They spent most of their 13 years of marriage in Malta, moving to Great Falls in 2007. Never able to have children, they instead raised two spaniels, Chipper and Yancey that they loved dearly. Inspired by his father’s service in the military, Les enjoyed reading and learning about military history, especially the air battles of World War II and plane design. He was a member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association). Les is survived by his brothers: Jack (Barbara) Gard of Ohio, Tom (Laurel) Gard of Minnesota, Owen (Verna) Gard of Colorado; 8 nieces and nephews; and 8 great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Clifton D. Gard and Susan J. (Arbogast) Gard; brother Joe Gard; his wife Yvonne (Kolczak) Gard; niece Teri Gard; great-nephew Ethan Gard; and his two dogs Chipper and Yancey.