Leonard Grigonis

Leonard Matthew Grigonis March 4,1955- November 9, 2021 Leonard Matthew Grigonis, 66, of Red Lodge MT left this world to join our Heavenly Father on November 9,2021 after battling pneumonia and leukemia. Leonard was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on March 4, 1955 to Leopold and Marjorie Grigonis. He graduated from Annapolis Highschool where he took an interest in Art and Photography. He then went on to Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming to study in the arts. He went on to study journalism at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. He married Kathy Arlian April 17,1982 and they shared 20 years of marriage in which they share their daughter Andrea Marie Grigonis. Leonard was at heart an adventurer and he always talked about how he was called out west to be a cowboy. He found a deep sense of belonging in the mountains where he would spend much of his time going to Rendezvous, panning for gold, fishing, photographing and painting the wildlife and scenery. Leonard loved to study history of all areas especially those of the mountain men and the fur trade. His watercolor paintings were an amazing reflection of this love of history and some of these painting showed his hilarious sense of humor with depictions of mishaps with wildlife in cartoon style. His love of history also led him to a job opportunity to work in Williamsburg, Virginia restoring the original colony buildings and playing parts in the historical reenactments. These last few years, Leonard drove buses for children to and from sports games in Philomath, Oregon. Here in Oregon, he loved to spend time driving to the coast and spending quality time with his friend Patty Beaumont. In August of 2021 Leonard returned to Montana to settle in Red Lodge to be closer to his daughter Andrea and granddaughter Natalie. Leonard was a kind and gentle soul and he had so much charisma. He was an amazing storyteller and always made everything an adventure to remember. His stories of his childhood were always fascinating. He had the privilege of growing up all over the world in places like Ghana West Africa, Brazil and Europe because of his father's job in Mobile Oil. There are many bold stories of him and his sister Mary exploring these wild places together. We will all miss his stories, artistic talent, and his venturesome spirit. Leonard was preceded in death by his parents Leopold Vitautas Grigonis, Marjorie Eleanor (Forbes) Grigonis. He is survived by his daughter Andrea Marie Grigonis, Granddaughter Natalie Marie Moen, His Sister Mary Stephanie Grigonis, His nieces Addison Ludwig and Genevieve Ludwig. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Ceremony is planned for the Spring of 2022.