Clinton 'Les' Mason

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, the "barefoot boat mechanic" from Fort Peck Marina went to his last best Walleye spot on the lake and took all his fishing secrets with him.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow. There will be a celebration of Les' life at a later date.

Clinton "Les" Mason was born in Wolf Point, Mont., Aug. 22, 1950, to Clarence "Swede" Mason and Christine (Jackson) Mason. He grew up in Fort Peck, attending school there and in Nashua, Mont.

He was a natural mechanic, and after high school he attended a marine mechanic tech school and began a career that always played a part in his life. He moved to Great Falls in the early 70s, working on boats and RVs at Alpenhaus/Sports Motors, now known as White Bear Island Marine.

In 1981 it was time to go home to Eastern Montana, this time taking his new wife and step-daughter with him. A son joined the family in 1983. They made a home in Glasgow and enjoyed everything Fort Peck Lake and the surrounding area had to offer.

In 1982, Northern Border Natural Gas Pipeline was being constructed and Les was hired. Again, his mechanical aptitude stood out, and in the following years he excelled at the computer technology and needed to keep the gas flowing. He officially retired in May 2017. Until complications from diabetes took its toll, he continued to repair boat motors and keep his friends and fellow fisherman out on the water. Feeling better in his last months, he was looking forward to a summer on the lake, taking his fair share of walleye.

He is preceded in death by his parents and baby brother, Clarence.

Survivors include his wife, Loryn "Lori" Mason; a son, Curtis Mason and his wife, Mandy, of Glasgow; a daughter, JoAnn Gilman and her husband, Barry, of Helena; five grandchildren, Nathan, Aaron and Kaleigh Gilman, Maria Morris and Reyna Merritt; three sisters, Susan Tihista and her husband, Buck, Frances "Tan" Leckie and her husband, Ed, and Sarah Mason; niece Cathy Rodenbaugh; nephews Christopher Leckie and Caleb Mason and three great-nephews and a great-niece.

To replace the fisherman we have lost, Les's family suggests in lieu of flowers, to consider a donation to the "Kids to Fish" program at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank in Glasgow.

Condolences may be left at bellmortuaryglasgow.com.