Leonard Leroy "Chick" Kelso

Leonard Leroy Kelso, 92, of Eden, Idaho went to meet his heavenly father on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Leonard was born on January 8, 1933, in Bell City, Missouri to Oral and Gertie Kelso.

In the Spring of 1948, Leonard’s family relocated to the Magic Valley where he met the love of his life, Eunice Strain. They were married in 1950 and made Eden, Idaho their home, raising four children over the years.

Always one to know the meaning of an honest day’s work, over the years, Leonard spent his life working as a logger and in the livestock and agriculture industries. We’re not sure he ever really did retire.

He never met a stranger. If you needed help, he was there—no questions asked. Whether it was a neighbor, a friend, or someone he’d just met, he gave his time, his heart, and his steady kindness to anyone who needed it.

And there was nothing he couldn’t fix. He was a master of making things work—and if there wasn’t a part for it, he’d make one. He loved collecting odds and ends from his adventures and could tell a story that would keep you captivated from start to finish and always leave you wanting more.

A passionate sports fan, he loved cheering on the Valley Vikings and the Boise State Broncos. He rarely missed a Vikings basketball game. Even after his children and grandchildren had long graduated, he and Eunice still attended almost every game—a dedication that earned them the honor of being awarded with an Outstanding Sportsmanship Award by Valley High School.

Leonard was preceded in death by his mother, father, 3 sisters, 2 brothers and 1 grandson. He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Eunice of Eden, ID. His children: Linda Pryor, Eden, ID; Alice (John) Ellis, Eden, ID; Hal (Debra) Kelso, Twin Falls, ID; and Tony (Beth) Kelso, Hazelton, ID; 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. An active member of the Church of Christ, Leonard had a long-standing relationship with his heavenly father. An amazing son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend; Leonard touched the lives of all he met and will be missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held April 26 at 2:00 PM at Rosenau Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor his memory by offering a simple act of kindness to someone in need, just as he so often did.