William "Bill" Harper Leach

William (Bill) Harper Leach, of Sun River, MT passed from this life to life everlasting April 24, one month before his 97th birthday.A service will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday April 28, 2018 at Fort Shaw Bible Church. Bill was born to Frank and Elizabeth (Harper) Leach on May 24, 1921 in Great Falls, MT. Graduating from GFHS in 1941, Bill worked the family truck garden and at Bertche’s Food Market until the war.Serving in WWII army from 1943 to 1945 he was assigned to Company C 442nd anti-aircraft, receiving Staff Sergeant rank and awarded the Purple Heart and French Croix de Guerre. After returning from the war, Bill started working at the Great Falls Tribune in 1945 and married Lois Nelson September 28, 1947. They purchased acreage in Sun River and grew Sweet Corn.Bill retired from the Tribune in 1983 after 37 years.The Leach family produced Leach’s Horseradish which was sold in grocery stores across the Northwest, started by Bill’s dad in 191l and continued until 1986. Bill and Lois were active in the Fort Shaw Bible Church.Bill was on the board; taught Adult Sunday School, and helped in children’s programs, camp work and senior’s ministry.He also served on the Great Falls Rescue Mission Board and volunteered there for many years. They have six children Linda (Harvey) Davidson (Salmon Arm, B.C.), Edwin William (deceased), Vern Leach (deceased), Dana Leach (Vaughn, MT), Marla (Lester) Mesenbrink (Kelowna, B.C.) Jeff (Michelle) Leach (Portland, OR) and 18 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.