Leonard A. Lardy

Leonard Lardy, 78, died October 9, 2011 in Fontana, CA. He was born and raised on a farm in Sentinel Butte, North Dakota on July 16, 1933. There he attended rural grade schools. He worked his way through college as a police dispatcher for the Dickinson Police Department. He attended Dickinson State University and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelors Degree in English and later went on to receive his Masters Degree in 1959 from the University of Montana.

Leonard began his teaching career in North Dakota, and in 1961 moved to California to teach at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, CA. He later taught at San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino before leaving to teach at San Bernardino Valley College where he retired in 1995. After retiring, he continued to teach part-time at San Bernardino Community College and Crafton Hills Community College. He volunteered as a tutor for the Yucaipa branch of the San Bernardino County Literacy Program until the time of his death and was an inspirational educator.

Leonard was very active in his church, and served as a lector and parish council member for St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Rialto prior to moving to Yucaipa. Since moving to Yucaipa, he was a member of St. Frances X. Cabrini Catholic Church in Yucaipa, CA. For over 40 years Leonard was very active in the sport of beagling, and was president of the Mount Baldy Beagle Club. Breeding, raising, and running beagles was more than a hobby for him, it was his passion, and he maintained lifelong friendships with his fellow beaglers.

Leonard had a wonderful sense of humor. He was incredibly proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. A favorite saying of his was “ya done good” which contradicted his English teachings. He was a man with many friends and no enemies.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joan, and his children, Tim (Danielle), Ron (fiancé Sallie), Becky Teel (Jeff), Lisa Hall (Steve), 10 grand children, 5 great-grandchildren and brothers Matt (Deanna), Larry (Edith), Maurice (Sharon), Bill (Dixie), Dennis, and sisters Susan, Teresa Davis and Helena Gregoire (Terry), and was preceded in death by his brother Pete. Leonard will be sincerely missed by his family and many friends.

In honor of his dedication to education the family requests that donations be sent to the Leonard A. Lardy Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Dickinson State University, 230 8th Avenue West, Dickinson, ND 58601 in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements entrusted to Weaver-Hughes Mortuary, Yucaipa, CA