Leslie Joseph Melichar passed away on Sept. 30, 2019 at the age of 75. He was born to Edward Antone Melichar and Virginia Madge Fox Melichar on July 1, 1944 in Lewistown. He spent his childhood growing up on the family farm just a mile south of Moore.
Les enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies including, boxing, NASCAR, football, fishing, gardening, road bikes, woodworking and traveling. From an early age, he loved to read and in junior high claimed he would try to read every book ever written.
Being a teenager in the late 50s and early 60s, a black jacket and his collar turned up (of course), proved to be a pretty exciting time. Les had a passion for music and cars along with “skipping” a few days from school and rodding cars with his best buds, including the late Clark Jennings. He took a lot of pride in his black Studebaker with the red interior. Les, his brother Ken, and a few of their friends formed a dance band in high school. He also spent a fair amount of time chasing the love of his life, Margie Hertel. They were known as the rebel and the cheerleader.
After high school, Les headed to U of M and earned his bachelors degree in music. One year in, he found he could not do without his high school sweetheart. He and Marge were married Sept. 7, 1963. Shortly after, he took his first teaching position in Hot Springs. Living and teaching on the reservation, inspired his passion for the Native American culture. Over the years, Les would return again and again to this spot with friends and family, building precious memories along the way.
A friend from college talked him into taking a teaching position in Stettler, Alberta, Canada. It was quite the opportunity for an adventure way up north, so he loaded up his family of five and off to Canada they went. While there, he also taught in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. What an adventure it was, and meant more good friends and memories. This included one year, while traveling home from Canada, the fan belt on the old Rambler broke. With nothing but a wink to his family and a pair of Marge’s nylons, they were soon on the road again. Les could fix anything.
The family returned to Montana when they heard his father was gravely ill. So in 1973, they once again loaded up and headed back to support the family farm. It was a boom/bust time in farming, but then again, when isn’t it?
During the “Shake your Shack,” years, and many of you will remember these, Les would provide hours of jamming on the piano and sing-alongs with family and friends into the wee hours of the morning. He would play the piano by ear, along with most of the other instruments. He was a talented man.
In 1989, Les took a job with the Farm Service Agency and was with them until he retired in 2011. After he retired, he and Marge spent most of a year traveling the country in an RV, and later became snowbirds, spending time with their family in both Montana and Arizona. He valued these experiences and family over everything else.
Les is survived by his wife Marge. As their children married, they were blessed with eight grandchildren and two great- grandsons. Brenda and Shawn had Elijah, Erin, Evan and Elissa. Elissa married Luke and they have a son Everett. Evan is married to Felicia. Maria and Dan had Molly and Joe. Derek and A’lynn had DJ and Gavin. Derek is now with Angie. DJ and Jordan had a son, Jettson. DJ is now with Dakota. Gavin is married to Merissa. Les was so-so proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He will be so greatly missed and fondly remembered.
The family invites friends and family to attend a memorial to be held on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at the Moore School, with a luncheon to follow at the Office Bar.
Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in the spring at the Moore Cemetery.