Leonard died of lung cancer April 17, 1992, in Missoula. He was born August 8, 1926, in Corvallis, Montana, where he graduated from high school. Len served in the Army during WWII. He attended the University of Montana
and rookied in 1946. He retired in 1976 as superintendent of the smokejumper center at Missoula and had more than 200 jumps. He jumped at Missoula 1946-48, 51-66, 73-74.