My dear Leon:  Having you as my brother-in-law turned out to be one of the nicer things that happened to me in my life.  You are a kind man who understands his fellow humans, me among them.  I love you for that.  Bless you my friend and brother

Hello Brother -

I wanted to let you know that I love you and I'm glad you are my brother.  We had some wonderful times together.  I remember our trips to Alaska, fishing for Silvers, flying in the Super Cub learning to taxi TO, and land on the water.  The good times we had fixing up the Cherokee 180 in Pagosa Springs.  I enjoyed our many visits with you and Joanne at your place.  I especially enjoyed our trips together to fly model airplanes in mid January.  By the way Bob Galler says hello.  We have lived a long, aviation, and prosperous life.  

See you on the other side.

Richard

I met Leon in 1950-he and I two rural kids coming to the city for high school. We, and our wives, have stayed close ever since. I remember an incident at their Alaskan lodge where they had invited us up to fish for king salmon. We were dining at the lodge when we saw a man in a small boat in the Deska river (with a bad motor and no oars) repeatedly throwing out his anchor and pulling it in, trying to get to shore in the fast moving river. Leon, never one to be too excitable, said "I suppose we should go help him" as he poured himself another cup of coffee. Leon ultimately rescued him, returning as if nothing had happened - a reflection of his approach to life. He will be missed.  Harry & Carol Hudson


My favorite memories are when I was a kid and our family went up to Alaska to visit Uncle Leon and Aunt Joann, Teresa and Ken for a month in 1972. We had so much fun and I loved to watch Uncle Leon smoke salmon and of course his Super Cub and flying out to the cabin, catching salmon and Dolly Varden at Homer. I will miss you Uncle Leon. Life well lived and to a wonderful family... and thanks for being such a great brother to my dad and Aunt Jean. All my love to everyone.

Like a lot of people in the family, my strongest memories of my Grandpa start with aviation. 

When I was a kid in the early 90s I used to love going to visit my grandparents at the Deshka River because it meant that I got to fly in my grandpa's Super Cub. It was always exciting but I didn't fully understand at the time just how amazing it was to be in an airplane with your grandpa at the controls. 

To me, it was just the way things were. Later I realized how lucky I was to have had an experience like that, especially one that became common enough to seem like a normal part of life.

After Grandma and Grandpa moved to Arizona the Super Cub was swapped out for Grandpa's red truck. We'd fly to Phoenix, pile into that truck and hit the road, once again with Grandpa at the controls, exploring the American Southwest and visiting family along the way. 

Just like visiting the Deshka, on those road trips I got to experience things that would be the thrill of a lifetime for any young boy, from the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde to the natural splendor of the Grand Canyon.

When I took an interest in music Grandpa was there to encourage me in that. He was a good sport to listen to a teenager talk about all the different styles of heavy metal and rock music, and he always wanted to hear me play, even in those early learning stages when I know I sounded terrible. 

But clearly he saw potential because he was always encouraging and always wanted to hear about it, and to impart his wisdom that I should learn how to play both kinds of music, country and western. 

I know he's one of the reasons I became the musician I am today.

A few years ago, he used his leatherwork skills to craft a custom guitar strap for me that I use when I perform, and when I do I get to feel like he's still right there with me.

He was a wonderful grandfather to me; caring, encouraging, occasionally stern and surprisingly funny.

Thank you, Grandpa, for everything. I love you and I'll miss you.

Robert

My favorite memories of Uncle Leon revolved mostly around the summer of 1984. I spent that summer at the Deshka Silver King Lodge and got to enjoy Uncle Leon's humor, rides in the Piper, more salmon than I could count, not to mention smoking and canning said salmon. The twinkle in his eyes when he thought of something funny, or the knowing look when I did something stupid (like lose an entire boat down the river), his quiet manner of teaching and showing me things, and just watching how his mind worked. He could invent something for any occasion, and often did! He was a quiet guy who could make his point heard very clearly when he wanted to. I will always remember him fondly and will miss him very much.

Leon was a man of many talents. He excelled as an airplane mechanic and pilot. 
    
 Piper Cub N3774Z was a work of art. Wrecked when he got it , Leon repaired the fuselage and wings, beefed the gear, crossed the skylight, boxed the tail,extended the baggage and added a third seat. He recovered it in ceconite, and painted it red, white, and black. The engine was rebuilt to produce 160hp and a  Leon B Dick STCed long prop installed. The ultimate bush plane equipped with Tundra tires, floats and skis.  It just shined !!
    
 Man could he fly it. Leon was one with 74Z. He loved flying and shared his joy with his passengers.
  
   It flew like a homesick angel. Take offs were about 300 feet and it cruised at 100mph. Throttled back for landing, the plane was quiet. You'd hear the  slipstream chirp while gilding into the sandbar at 40 mph. He'd hit the spot and get it stopped in a couple of hundred feet.
   
  Leon was always happy to slip into the silver hole with a passenger and slide out an hour later with a limit of salmon in each float. 
    
 Piloting from the back seat he'd often put you in the front to practice your flying.
    
 Lots of fond memories of Leon and his cub.
     
Thanks Leon. I know its CAVU and you have a good tailwind shepherding  you on your flight home.Love and miss you.
  Brian



Uncle Leon was the quiet, gentle, thoughtful guy with a chuckle that shook his belly!  
Like Susan, I will never forget my time in Alaska.  The fishing, the beer bread, the bears, the smoked salmon I could live on!!!! And again, the chuckles.  What an experience and a special way to become closer with my Uncle!
And then when Uncle Leon and Aunt Joan moved to AZ, I was in a tough spot.  They both swooped in and took the kids and me to get a Christmas tree, bought some presents, made yummy food, gave us the gift of time with family, and gave my kids the Christmas I couldn’t.  I enjoyed having them close by!
I love you Uncle Leon!  You left an incredible legacy.  I’ll miss you so very much!!

I loved getting to spend the summer in Alaska with Uncle Leon when I was 17 years old.  He taught me to fish the big guys, king salmon and also how to skin a salmon efficiently.  I loved his little smirk, his big laugh and how he smiled with his eyes.  I loved my Uncle Leon and will miss him greatly!  

I have so many memories that it’s hard to pin just one down. I remember when he told my parents & I that he was moving to Alaska. That was on my graduation day! Everyone was upset over that! But we ended up going to Alaska several times to visit & all was forgiven.  I think one of my favorite times visiting Alaska was when Leon picked us up from Anchorage to fly us to the Lodge & he would  chase after the moose with the plane! That was thrilling! What a pilot he was!! I’ll never forget that. He was a great brother and friend! He was a true genius with his inventions & solutions to problems. I was very proud of him!  He would make me bologna sandwiches, my mom’s Caramels, & sweet & salty popcorn.  He would always tell me great stories about my mom & dad.  I loved him so much & he WILL be missed! Thanks Brother for the memories! 

What a fantastic “Brother-in-Love”!  I have so many fond memories of our time together over the years. I guess one that goes back to the late 60’s was when he showed a brand new Air Force pilot (me) how to really fly an airplane.  He taught me how to fly a float plane in Alaska.  He was definitely the best pilot I have ever known.  More recently, (like last month), Leon taught me how to “smoke” a large pork shoulder butt while simultaneously smoking a salmon and some Gouda cheese.  He always had time to teach, tell a story or just “be there” with that expressive smile of his.  I will miss him, but I know where he is...he’s with Jesus, and some day I’ll see him again!

One winter Leon and Joan asked Ken and I to spend a week out on the river to watch the place so they could go into town.  Leon was a pilot and flew a red Super Cub, a small bush plane. He flew us out one at a time. As it was winter, the plane was on skis, as we approached their property Leon swooped down and we landed on the pond behind the lodge.  I had never experienced anything so magical, the snow flew up around the plane, it was thrilling. Thanks to him I was given a rare gift, an experience I would never have imagined.

I have so many great memories with Grandpa.  Most of my favorite ones revolve around the Lodge.  I used to go out and spend a few weeks with my Grandparents in the summer and there was usually more family there to spend time with as well.  I remember sitting in his dozer with him when he would work on the airstrip and driving it.  I remember going out and fishing with him and getting tipped by the tourists that were at the Lodge.  I remember the giant tub of Red Vines he always kept hidden in the back for me.   My favorite Lodge memory though is when we filmed his engine video and I remember the canola oil smelled like fried chicken.  

My other favorite memories were when we would go down to Phoenix for a few weeks in the summer, get in Grandpa's truck, and head off on these adventures.  I explored so much of the southwest with my Grandpa driving us every mile of the way.  

There is no way to choose a favorite memory, I have so many.  All I can say is that every one of us that got to have my Grandpa in our lives was lucky, he taught all of us things without him we probably wouldn't know.

Layla will miss her rolls of quarters!  Thank you for all the great memories and all the great trips, they are the parts of life I will remember forever.  I love you Grandpa.

Aurora

Grateful to have a bit more time with dad these past few months. Really appreciate Teresa’s support throughout. Working together as a family once more.

My fondest memories of life with dad nearly always involve looking at, working on, or flying an airplane.  Sunday drives with the family usually ended up at the float plane base at Anchorage International Airport where we learned to tell an Aeronca Sedan from a Piper cub. We learned useful skills by handing him tools and holding parts as he rebuilt countless small planes. Naturally the finest moments were those spent in the air where again we learned navigation and even how to fly his Super Cub.  Love you Dad. Thanks for the memories. Teresa

OBITUARY

Leon Burton Dick

5 January, 1934 – 24 May, 2021

Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary

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