Madge Leal

Madge Leal of Lima, Montana passed away on September 11, 2024, in the presence of her loving family, after a brief struggle with cancer.

Madge was born May 30, 1943, in Oakdale, California to Don Carlos (Jake) and Florence Schofield. She was the youngest of five children and had two older brothers and two older sisters. Duane, Beatrice, Thomas, and Joan.

At a young age she moved to Valley Falls, near Lakeview, Oregon, where she spent most of her formative years. She made great, lifelong friends with the other children in Valley Falls. She attended school through eleventh grade in Lakeview where she learned to play the clarinet, she babysat her nieces and nephews and even found herself in the try-outs for Rodeo Queen one year. Madge graduated from High School in Oakdale, California after her family moved there to take care of her maternal grandfather.

Later she attended Brigham Young University, where she earned an Associates Degree in Secretarial Studies. She was rewarded later in life for her ability to type over 80 words per minute and her skills in shorthand.

After she graduated from BYU, she moved to Sacramento, California where she worked for Governor Ronald Reagan and the State of California. While attending church, Madge met the love of her life, Forrest Loyd Leal Jr. On July 3 rd 1963, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple. They lived in the Sacramento area for the next few years, where three of their four children were born. Eric, Kevin, and Nadine.

In 1971, the family purchased a ranch and moved to British Columbia, Canada near Madge's mother and uncles. Shortly after, their fourth child, Jacob was born.

In 1978, the family moved to Elgin, Oregon where all her children attended high school. After the children were grown, Madge and Forrest lived in Oregon City, Oregon, Rogue River, Oregon, and for the last 22 years, Lima, Montana.

Madge and Forrest had the wonderful opportunity of serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois where they spent many hours every day sharing their testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through singing, dancing, and giving tours.

Madge made lifelong friends everywhere she lived. She was a devout member of the Church. She patterned her life after the Savior, and she devoted herself to service. She always put the needs of others above her own. Her life was centered around her family, who all loved her dearly.

Madge is preceded in death by her parents and her four siblings. Madge is survived by her husband Forrest; her four children Eric (Laurie) Leal - Central Point, Oregon, Kevin (Tanya) Leal - Shelley, Idaho, Nadine (John) Stosich - Lima, Montana, Jacob (Gloria) Leal - Shelley, Idaho; 25 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Memorial Services will be held for Madge on Monday, September 23, 2024, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Lima, Montana. The services will begin at 11:00am with a viewing at 10:00am. Interment will be in the Lima Cemetery with a luncheon immediately afterward at the church.