I had the opportunity to attend his funeral in Blackfoot, ID. All of my siblings were there. It was a beautiful service, with beautiful tributes to him given.
Grandpa was a great man- a wonderful sense of humor, a deep love for his wife and family, an incredibly strong work ethic that he passed on to his 5 sons and 1 daughter. He always called me "Chrissy"- only he and my dad can get away with that name.
He loved to sit on his driveway with a Coors and talk for hours and watch the grandkids play.
I love that he led a really simple life- he fought in WWII (the navy, serving in the Pacific), came home and got married, and raised his 6 kids on a farm in rural Idaho. But even though his life was simple, his legacy is monumental. 6 kids, 26 grandkids, 76 great grandkids, and (so far) 6 great great grandkids.
He was quiet, with a sharp wit. A favorite family story is that my dad was driving a tractor on the street when he was 14 that didn't have a red sticker on it, making it illegal. My dad got pulled over and ended up in court. They wanted to fine my grandpa and he said, "Why are you fining me- he was the one driving!" He still ended up with the fine, and if I remember correctly, his fine went up when he said, "if they don't see a tractor on the road, how are they supposed to notice a small red triangle?!?"
My dad's favorite story involves a beloved goat they had as children. One day, the goat disappeared. The kids searched high and low for the goat, and cried at the loss. Year later they asked Grandpa what happened to the goat, and Grandpa said there was a party and they needed a goat, so it ended up on the dinner table.
Another story that was shared at the funeral:
When my grandma was expecting my dad the doctor went into her hospital room and came back out to my grandpa, who was outside the door and said: "Congratulations, you are the proud father to a healthy baby boy". The doctor went back into the room and later came out and said "Congratulations, you are the proud father to another healthy baby boy". The doctor went to go back into the room and my grandpa yelled "Doctor, don't you DARE go back into that room!"
When Grandma High died, the most poignant moment of my life occurred when Grandpa got up right before they closed her casket to give her one last kiss good-bye.
Grandpa was not a religious man. But, he was an honest and good man. And in that moment, I realized that even though I love and believe in religion, being a good person, a good husband, a good father- is just, or more, important. I hope that I can be half the person that he was. And, I hope that Ben and I have the love that my grandparents shared for 67 years.
Before the funeral, we went through the house that Grandpa built a few years after they were married and my dad grew up in one last time.
We also went through the first house they had in Blackfoot. It's right across the dirt road from their brick house. I'm not going to lie, it was really scary. Stephanie said a prayer before we went in.
I actually had never been inside because it was used as a junk house. But, they had cleaned it out.
After they moved across the street, they converted this house into a shop (they made the exterior wall a garage door that opened and closed). The business was called "Leo High and Sons."
Then, of course, was the celebration of his life. It was tough seeing him lying in the coffin, but it was great seeing cousins and family that I haven't seen in years.
His obituary:
BIOGRAPHY
Leo Francis High, 91, of Blackfoot, passed away, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving family
Leo was born March 8, 1927 in Ashton, Idaho, 4th of 9 children born to George LeRoy and Stella Pearl Crain High.
He spent his youth in Ashton, attending schools there, then moved to Idaho Falls. He enlisted in the US Navy and went to war at the young age of 17. He attended naval training at Farragut Naval Base in northern Idaho. He served mostly in the Pacific Theatre on the USS Gurke.
Leo was born March 8, 1927 in Ashton, Idaho, 4th of 9 children born to George LeRoy and Stella Pearl Crain High.
He spent his youth in Ashton, attending schools there, then moved to Idaho Falls. He enlisted in the US Navy and went to war at the young age of 17. He attended naval training at Farragut Naval Base in northern Idaho. He served mostly in the Pacific Theatre on the USS Gurke.
Leo married Sarah Nadine Olaveson on September 21, 1947 in Idaho Falls. They moved to Blackfoot in 1958. Nadine preceded him in death on September 24, 2014 after 67 years of marriage.
Leo lived his life by the Golden Rule and took a man at his word and a handshake. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor and his ability to remember and tell every joke he had heard.
Though he was a master mechanic at Modern Motor Chevrolet in Blackfoot for 28 years, he also had his family farm where he enjoyed working with and teaching his 6 children a strong work ethic. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, and following his kids and grandkids in their various sports activities. His whole focus was his family and work.
Leo is survived by his children, Steven (Glenna) High of Shelley, Gregory (Candace) High of Blackfoot, Ron (Margo) High of Seattle, Washington, Raymond (Vicki) High of Blackfoot, Janet (Steven) Huffman of Meridian, and Brian High of Seattle; a brother-in-law, Dell Olaveson; sisters-in-law Joyce Stallings and Carol Olaveson; 26 grandchildren, 76 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine; his parents, George and Stella High; daughter-in-law, Doris High; brothers, Kenneth, Dale, Clifford, Willis and Dewey; and sisters,Theo and Mary Helen.
A celebration of Leo’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 30, 2018 at the Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot. Family will meet with friends and relatives from 4-6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the funeral home and again one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Grove City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hawkerfuneralhome.com.
The family would like to thank Encompass Home Health and Hospice for their kind care and love of their father. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Legion Stewart Hoover Post 23 in Blackfoot.
