Leslie Lee Humbert

Leslie Lee Humbert, 72, was born on July 16, 1951, in Scobey, Mont. He passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center in Scobey after a long battle with bladder cancer.

Lee was born to Charles and Lenora (Larson) Humbert, joining siblings Lloyd, Karen, Larrie, Linda, and later sister Garnet. He was raised on the Humbert Ranch/Farm north of Four Buttes, Mont., which is located along the Canadian border. The Humbert Ranch was established in 1908 by Lee's great grandparents, Charles O. and Edith Humbert.

One of Lee's favorite possessions was a clock made by his great grandmother with the horns of the first steer butchered on the Humbert (Needmore) Ranch. Due to the distance from the Humbert ranch to town, he spent winters in Scobey and graduated from Scobey High School in 1969. After high school, Lee turned down an appointment to West Point and instead chose to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., for a couple of years. After that he enlisted in the US Army where he served in Panama and brought home many forms of art from that area.

Upon discharge from the Army, Lee went to MSU Bozeman and graduated in 1976. He had originally planned on going to law school, but instead returned to the family ranch. While Lee had been away serving in the Army and attending college, his father began raising registered Angus cattle on the family ranch and when Lee returned home, the Humbert Ranch became the love of his life. Over the years, Lee expanded the herd and received many awards from the American Angus Association for "pathfinder cows." He marketed his prized bulls and eventually began having the annual North Country Angus Bull Sale in Glasgow, Mont. Lee loved to encourage young ranchers in the cattle business by giving them bred heifers or bulls to help them in their endeavors. Many young people throughout the NE Montana community were blessed by his generosity.

Although Lee never married, he led a life full of love for God, family, friends, and church. He also had a deep love for NE Montana and for our great country. He felt a strong obligation to his community and showed his commitment to it by serving on many boards over the years. His last service to the community was as a Daniels County Commissioner which he took very seriously. He was honored to follow in his grandfather Roy Humbert's footsteps who had also been a County Commissioner. He always wanted to do the best for Daniels County and to see it continue to be the distinct place it is.

Lee was a life long member of Scobey Lutheran Church. He served on the council and was a mentor to many young people. One of his greatest joys was singing in the church choir on Sundays. He enjoyed art, music, geology, history, fishing, hunting, politics, and photography. Lee also liked playing poker in the winter, golfing in the summer, and a good glass of wine.

Lee loved where he lived and the walls of his home were covered with photographs he had taken over the years. Many of the pictures were of the beautiful animals and landscapes of Daniels County or of other places he had visited. He entered many of his photographs in the DC Fair over the years. He made a calendar every year of his favorite photos from that year and loved giving them to people as Christmas gifts. In addition to the photographs and calendars, he also had cups made with his photos on them which he gave to whomever he thought would enjoy them.

Lee enjoyed reading history books, studying the geology of an area and then sharing what he had learned with his family. He enjoyed hunting and fishing on the ranch. Since he lived right on the bank of the Middle Fork of the Poplar River, it was always easy to quickly grab his pole and go cast a bit to wind down after a long day of work.

One of Lee's favorite pastimes was debating various political issues with anyone who would participate. He had very strong opinions and was not afraid to defend them. A person always knew where they stood with him which made Lee a strong and fair businessman who was known for being a man of his word.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Lloyd (Penny) Humbert; sister Karen (Ken) Seyler; and nephews Tony Humbert and Nathaniel Humbert.

Survivors include brother Lawrence "Larrie" (Diane) Uberte, of Reva, Va.; sisters Linda (Jerry) Kearn, of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Calif.; and Garnet (Daryl) Fladager, of Peerless, Mont.; nine nieces and nephews;19 great nieces/nephews, and many who worked for or with Lee.

Services were July 6, 11 a.m., at Scobey Lutheran Church, 202 Timmon Street, Scobey.