Leon Samuel Keene, Leprechaun, age 74, passed away December 27, 2013 in Kalispell. Leon was born February 16, 1939, the 3rd of 8 children to Leona Margaret Keene and Arlo Thompson Keene in Bozeman, Montana. He graduated from Bozeman High School in 1958 where he had been active on the Stage Crew, DeMolay, and Boy Scouts. After graduation, he was grounds keeper at Valley View Golf Course. He moved to Southern California in the early 1960's where he became a Certified Electrician, and worked for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, Central Lighting, and travelled with the Grand Land Singers doing their lighting and sound. He had a part in the movie "Little Cigars" , released in 1973, and played the Leprechaun in a movie about mountain men. Leon moved to Cody, Wyoming in the early 1990's where he worked as a side attraction at Buffalo Bills Museum in his mountain man outfit. He returned to Montana in 1996 where he resided in Whitefish. He was very active in the Mountain Men Rendezvous re-enactment. He was known as the Leprechaun and his home made jams, jellies, and beads he sold. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Harold Arlo (Weird Harold) , and sister Margaret (Peggy) Jean Lindgren. He is survived by his brothers Alan Powers Keene, Tulsa, OK; Arthur Raymond Keene, Bozeman, MT; sisters Avis Leona Barnes (Gary), Montrose, CO; Sharon Helen Teixeira, Newark, CA; Sheila Mae Keene-Larsen (George Keene-Larsen), Grass Valley, CA; his companion of 9 years Patty Ann Wright, Whitefish, MT and many nieces and nephews. Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.
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