Leonard Willis Fleming

Leonard Willis Fleming went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was reunited with his beloved wife, Helen on December 27, 2025. He passed away peacefully in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 91, having lived a full and generous life.

Leonard was born on April 7, 1934, in Clarinda, Iowa, to James and Hattie Willis. He spent his childhood years in Washougal, Washington, and was raised in the home of Howland and Wilma Fleming, who adopted him when he was 11 years old. Always with humor and humility, Leonard often recounted that as a teenager he was once deemed “incorrigible” by his high school principal, a story that underscored the remarkable transformation that would later define his life.

Leonard joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, where he liked to say he “fought the Battle of Luke.” It was during this time that he met Helen Lydia Saba. They married in Phoenix in 1956 and began a lifelong partnership grounded in faith, service, and love.

Leonard and Helen came to faith in Jesus Christ together through the ministry of Vince Morris at Valley Bible Church in Phoenix. Their Christian commitment became the defining center of their marriage, vocation, and daily life. Leonard pursued higher education at Grand Canyon College and Arizona State University, preparing for a life of ministry through teaching, music, and pastoral service.

Leonard served for many years as a music instructor at Arizona Bible College, where he led choirs, taught Bible classes, and mentored countless students. When Arizona Bible College closed, Leonard, alongside Paul Eyemann, felt a deep burden to continue biblical education in Phoenix. In partnership with Bethany Bible Church, they founded Arizona College of the Bible. Leonard served the school faithfully for two decades, including time as president, before retiring.

Following his retirement from Arizona College of the Bible, Leonard returned to direct ministry at Bethany Bible Church, where he served in multiple pastoral roles for over a decade. His teaching, preaching, and shepherding reflected a steady devotion to Scripture, the local church, and the spiritual growth of others.

In his later years, Leonard resided at Fellowship Square, in Phoenix. What began as a residence quickly became home. Leonard and Helen loved the Fellowship Square community and formed lasting friendships there. Leonard naturally continued in pastoral service, serving regularly at Sunday services, until physical limitations made it no longer possible. He remained in the same apartment he first moved into, passing away peacefully there.

Leonard is survived by his son Dale Michael Fleming of Pomona, California, and his daughters, Sara Michaud (married to John Michaud) and Staci Fleming, by his son and daughter-in-law, David James Fleming and Jennifer Black of Tucson, Arizona, and grandsons, Matthew Fleming and Andrew Fleming. He is also survived by his birth sister, Marjorie Stuart of Fremont, Nebraska, and by his adoptive sister, Katherine Shirley Durtschi of Sisters, Oregon.

Leonard will be remembered as a man transformed by grace, steadfast in faith, generous in service, and faithful in every season of life. His love for Christ shaped his family, his ministry, and all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Leonard’s memory be honored through charitable gifts to organizations he faithfully supported:

Boys Town

https://www.boystown.org/

Bridge to Hope

https://b2hope.org/

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

https://www.stjude.org/