Each night I pray for those of you who have gone before me. I know we will meet again. I also pray for you, my children and grandchildren. I'll bet you didn't know that there are 168 hours in a week. God only asks you to spend one with him…. Go to Mass. Be proud. Be good to your family and those less fortunate. - JLM

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Jack McLeod, on July 28, 2025, in Butte, Montana, on the birthdate of his beloved daughter, Mary Ann. Jack was born in Butte on January 24, 1932, to William "Bud" McLeod and Margaret Murphy McLeod. Growing up during the Great Depression, life was tough. When he was four, his father abandoned the family, and his mother instilled in him a strong work ethic that he carried throughout his life. His motto was that a work ethic separates success from failure. In 1943, at age eleven, he delivered morning newspapers at 4:30 a.m., from the Corner Bar on Montana and Gold Street to the old Milwaukee Railroad Station to support his mother and sister, June. During the summer of 1949, Dad worked at the Rocker Timber Mill operated by the Anaconda Company. He would leave our grandmother's apartment at 312 West Gold Street at 6:00 a.m. and jog five miles to Rocker to ensure a timely arrival; it was not easy work for a seventeen-year-old.

He attended Catholic schools at Saint Patrick's and graduated from Boys Central in 1950. As Dad likes to tell the story, a promising high school football career ended with a severe broken leg. In the fall of 1947, he was a 5-foot-9, 140-pound running back. During an aggressive practice, he carried the ball "up the gut" and was met by several of his defensive teammates. The result was a fractured tibia in two places. Brother Riely, the coach, shouted for him to get up and run again; when Brother Riely saw the condition of the leg, he became physically distraught. He also claims he was an outstanding 220-yard runner in grade school, except for one problem. He could always win the first 200 yards, but the last was his undoing. The first three finishers always seemed to pass him in the final 20 yards.

After high school, Dad continued doing hard labor, working for the Anaconda Company on the "Hill," while taking night classes at Montana Tech. In 1951, he realized he'd have to join the military after North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950. As winter neared and work on the "Hill" got tougher, he understood it was time to serve his country. He went home to tell his mother, only for her to hand him a letter from President Harry Truman—he was being drafted into the Army. In January 1951, he was sent to Fort Lewis in Washington, then to Camp Roberts in California. He was eventually assigned to the 7th Infantry Division and reported to Company "D" of the 15th Armored. On July 23, 1953, a ceasefire was signed, ending the conflict. Dad returned stateside and helped interview prisoners of war about their capture and treatment. He was asked to reenlist, but he had no intention of making the military a career, so he declined. He was awarded the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal for winter 1953, and individually received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. While Dad never talked much about the Korean War with his children, he once wrote, "I go to my grave knowing that I gave all I could for my country. I am proud of my service, especially those 37 days of combat when I gave it everything."

In the fall of 1954, he enrolled at Montana State University. Bozeman had a population of about 8,500 people, and the college had fewer than 2,000 students. So, on weekends, he would carpool home to Butte, where the action was a bit livelier. One evening, he was in the Victory Club when he saw three young ladies enter and head to the bar. He approached the bar and introduced himself to a pretty young woman celebrating her 21st birthday; her name was Jo Ann Gardner. Eight months later, he proposed to Jo Ann, and they married in September 1956. To say Mom was the love of Dad's life is an understatement; they remained married for 68 years.

In 1961, with a loan of $600, Mom and Dad started Frontier Realty (in honor of John F. Kennedy). Eventually, Frontier Realty became McLeod Realtors, and 64 years later, it is still operating today. At the 1971 Montana Realtor Convention, he was elected President. He also served as a Director of the National Association of Realtors from 1972 to 1975. He was awarded the Omega Tau Roe for outstanding service by the National Association of Realtors. He was also honored when he was chosen as a Life Member of the National Association of Realtors. One of his most significant achievements was encouraging J. L. Copper Company to bring FHA financing to Butte.

Mom and Dad spent their later years watching their grandchildren participate in sports, traveling to Ireland to meet distant relatives, and exploring their grandparents' neighborhoods. They also visited South Africa, saw Victoria Falls, and enjoyed time in Hawaii. However, their favorite spot was weekend getaways at the family retreat on Georgetown Lake.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, JoAnn; daughter, Mary Ann; father, Bud; mother, Margaret; sister, June Harrington; brother-in-law, John Harrington; mother-in-law, Alice Gardner; and father-in-law, Jack Gardner; brother-in-law, Jack Gardner; sister-in-law, Jackie Gardner.

He is survived by his sons, Bill, John, Mike (Veronica), and Jim (Carolyn), as well as grandchildren, Alex, Jack, Erika, Michaela, Mijah, Giovanna, and great-granddaughter Charlie Ann, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann's on Monday, August 4, 2025. Services begin at 11 a.m., with visitation starting at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations can be made to Butte Rescue Mission or Butte Sheltered Workshop.