LeRoy Donald Grothaus

LeRoy Donald Grothaus passed away on Dec. 11, 2018, in Weiser at the age of 95.
 LeRoy was born Jan. 26, 1923, in Smith County, Kansas, to Eldon and Mary Beatz Grothaus. 
 He spent his early years in Kansas until the “dust bowl” hit and he migrated to Idaho with his parents and sister. He attended several small schools in the Emmett Valley. He loved playing baseball. 
 While still in school, he worked for several farmers and ranchers and trapped in the winter months. After schooling, Leroy attended industrial trade school at the old Institute in Weiser. He was sent to Boeing aircraft company in Seattle, Wash., as a riveter. He later switched to welding and worked at the Lake Washington Shipyards. 
 LeRoy married Arlene Stippich in March of 1943, at Emmett, Idaho. They spent their first winter feeding sheep and cattle on Big Flat in Washington County. They were snowed in until spring that winter, living miles from anywhere. When they were able to get out, LeRoy was surprised to find a “Greetings from the President” letter waiting for him. It was March of 1944.
 He was inducted into the Army Air Corps and was a gunner on a B-24, stationed at various Air Fields across America. When World War II ended, he was released from the service and moved back to Emmett, Idaho, where he helped his brother-in-law drill wells. 
 LeRoy was the head welder on the Cascade Dam from the start to finish of the dam. He also worked at the Stibnite mines. He moved his wife and small daughter back to Emmett, where he was a welder at Gate City Steel. 
 Soon a baby boy joined the family and LeRoy decided it was time to settle down, so they moved to a ranch on North Crane Creek east of Midvale. LeRoy operated one of his father-in-law’s cattle ranches, eventually buying it, and he and Arlene called the place home for 43 years. He also ran a neighboring hay and grain ranch for 25 years.
 LeRoy was a pilot for 52 years, so of course he built a airstrip and bought a 140 Cessna. Besides checking cows and fences, and getting parts for machinery, it was perfect for chasing coyotes and spotting deer. He eventually bought a Cessna 180. His years at the ranch were hard work, but rewarding.
 Among his civic duties, he was president of the Cambridge Rodeo Board for 11 years and served on the Midvale School Board for nine years.
 Upon retirement from the ranch, he and Arlene moved to Weiser, where he picked up the fiddle again after many years. He joined the Gem State Fiddlers, Idaho State Fiddlers and the Blue Mountain Fiddlers. He and Arlene were grand marshals of the National Oldtime Fiddlers’ parade in Weiser and the Cambridge Rodeo parade. 
 He was known for his honesty, roping, fiddling and flying. And also for trying to rope a “pretty mad” bear he encountered on the ranch, a true story.
 He is remembered with love by his wife of 75 years, Arlene; his children Phyllis Qualls (Joe), Dave Grothaus (Marilyn), Mary Ellen Leffler (Bill Richards), Bonnie Gibson (Lynn), and Jenny Arriola, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
 He was preceded in death by his parents (Eldon and Mary), sister, Margie Irene, and a son, Joseph and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
 A celebration of LeRoy’s life is planned for March 9, 2019, at the Weiser Community and Senior Center from noon to 3 p.m.
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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