Leo Howard Farmen

Oct. 12, 1915 – Dec. 13, 2012 Sublimity, Oregon L. Howard  was  born to Oliver and Golda Farmen in Laurel, Montana.  He moved to Mill City/Gates area in 1923.  He attended Mill City and Gates schools 1-12, graduating from Gates High School in 1935. He attended U.S. Armament School in Salem after which he was employed at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington.  He also spent time in the logging industry in the Santiam Canyon.  He was drafted to serve in WWII in the U.S. Air Force in Sept. 1942, serving in the African & European areas,  after being injured in France he returned home in Sept. 1945. He received a Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge, Oak Leaf Cluster, European African Middle East Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.  Howard was married to Alice Talley in Mill City on Dec. 16, 1945.  He was employed in logging for a short time, worked on the M.C. Manufacturing Co. railroad before working on Detroit dam for its entire construction.  He then was employed by Mill City School District for 26 years where he retired as a Supt. of maintenance.  Many years were spent traveling, cruising becoming his favorite, and artifact hunting in the high desert areas of western states. He was a past member of Mill City Fire Dept, Mill City Council, and served as first Municipal Judge and Recorder when Mill City was incorporated in 2004.  In 1995, he and Alice moved to Stayton, living there for 9 years before moving to Marian Estates in Sublimity in 2004.  In 2004,he was inducted in Santiam Canyon School District Canyon Hall of Fame.  He is survived by his wife, Alice, son, Michael Farmen (Chermaine Hebert) grandsons, Scott and Aaron ( Maria) Farmen of Stayton; brothers, Fred of Albany, Darrell Farmen of Alaska, and many nieces and nephews.  Memorial graveside with military honors will be held on Sat. Dec. 22nd at 1:00 pm  at Fairview Cemetery  in Gates, OR. Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services Stayton, OR.