Leon Harold Longstroth

The Lord called Leon Harold Longstroth to Heaven on September 18, 2017 at 1:08 pm. Leon was born on December 6, 1940 at 6:28 am in Caldwell, Idaho to Granger and Margaret Longstroth. He was the third of four children. Growing up he loved hunting and fishing. He also had a bit of a reputation for causing trouble. He went to Emmett High school where he competed in track and field. He graduated from Emmett high school in 1960. Two years later in 1962 he married his first wife Karen Fuller, they had their first child Lori Lynn in Burley, Idaho in May of 1963. Six years later they had their second daughter Deawn in Eugene, Oregon in October of 1968. Leon would later marry Ida Kendall in 1976. Leon and Ida also had two children Matthew born in Nampa, Idaho in June of 1978 and then the youngest Melodi born in Nampa, Idaho in March of 1982. Leon was a devoted father and husband. He always put the Lord and his family first.

Leon moved around frequently, in the first half of his life he lived in California, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Colorado. Leon had unwavering faith in the Lord and he loved sharing the message of God with anyone that would listen. He felt the Lord calling him to preach; so, in November of 1982, Leon moved his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado to go to the Nazarene Bible College, where he attended until 1986.

He then moved back to Idaho in 1986 and in 1988 he packed up his family and moved to Salem, Oregon. While living in Salem, he attended George Fox College in Newberg, Oregon he graduated 1989 with a major in Human Resources. He remained in Oregon for the next 30 years until his passing in 2017.

Leon's bright smile, and friendly personality, made talking to people easy for him, he loved talking to people, it didn't really matter what the topic was, he just loved the interaction. These qualities made him very adept at sales and sharing the word. In 1989, he decided to combine his passion for sales and the Lord, and launched the Dove Report, with his Brother Bruce Longstroth, and friend Clint Crow. Later he took a job with the Developmentally Disabled when he worked for Shang Ri La a group home in Salem, Oregon. He cared greatly for his clients, he loved taking them out on field trips, by far his favorite type of trip involved taking his clients to Portland wrestling matches at the Salem Armory. Leon had a stroke in 1996, taking him out of the work force and into retired life, from that point on, he spent his time focused on his family. Leon enjoyed many different things throughout life, besides the Lord and his family he enjoyed telling stories of his mischievous days as a youth, his days as a door to door salesman and his hunting and fishing expeditions in Idaho. He enjoyed watching sports, eating black licorice and rooting for his favorite teams, the Oregon Ducks, the Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Seahawks. But he really enjoyed watching professional wrestling whenever they were on. Leon will be missed greatly but he is in a better place and lived a full and happy life surrounded by those that loved him.

Surviving Leon is his beloved wife of 41 years, Ida Longstroth; daughter Lori-Lynn (Allan) Halifax of Aloha, OR; daughter Deawn (Deni) Herrmann of Vancouver, WA; Son Matthew Longstroth of Salem, OR; and daughter Melodi Longstroth of Salem, OR. Four grandchildren; Ryan (Lisa) Holscher, Alexander Holscher, Zachary Herrmann and Asher Herrmann.
Leon is also survived by his one sister Annie Tycksen, brother Bruce (Sharon) Longstroth. Sister-in-law Veva (Jim) Jenks, sister-in-law Sherry Robertson and many nieces, nephews and friends who will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.LLs.org