Michael (Mike) Stewart Leep

Michael S. Leep, age 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho.

Dad was born on November 13, 1945, in Taft, California, to Selby and Beaulah “Sally” Leep. The family later moved to Roseburg, Oregon, with Dad graduating from Roseburg High School. Playing football was a skill he excelled at, and having played all four years in high school, Dad received a full-ride scholarship to play right guard for the Oregon State Beavers. Dad loved to share his football memories with anyone who would listen, and one such memory often recalled was the time USC and O.J. Simpson came to play the Beavers. Dad tackled O.J. but said he was a hard tackle because of O.J.’s distinctive crab-like, side-to-side way of moving. While playing for the Beavers, Dad received an offer from the Dallas Cowboys to try out for their team. A knee injury ended Dad's football career and kept him from pursuing his passion any further. He later enlisted and served in the Oregon National Guard.

In 1969, Dad married his college sweetheart, Janet McCornack. During their first years of marriage, Dad, along with his buddy, Eldon Townsend, ran sheep in the Willamette Valley. Dad and Mom later got into cattle ranching, purchasing their first ranch along Beaver Creek in Baker County, Oregon. It was here that Dad not only ranched but thinned timber in the Oregon forests. A difficult job that took a lifelong, hard toll on his body that eventually, at the end of a day’s work and shower, would often require a foot rub from one of his daughters.

Ranching followed Dad and his family to Richland, Oregon, and finally Weiser, Idaho, on Crane Creek, below the “old mercury mine”. The ranching lifestyle introduced Dad to a lifelong passion: team roping. Dad loved to rope as the header, and every ranch he had, he built his own roping arena. Many hot days were spent helping Dad pick up rocks in the arena, pulling the shoot for the steers. Team-roping provided the family with fun outings such as the weekly roping club in Weiser or rodeos in Cambridge and Council. On our way to ropings, Dad would often stop at the Park Street Market in Weiser to buy us each a pop and peanuts. This is where we learned the tasty treat of mixing the two.

In the mid-80s, Dad and Mom retired from ranching and bought a small acreage along the Snake River outside of Homedale, Idaho. Dad, once again, built his own roping arena for practice and enjoyment. When the Snake River Stampede came to town, world-class team ropers Jake Barns and Clay O’Brien Cooper could be found limbering up horses at Dad’s facility. Eventually, Dad and Mom parted ways but remained in contact and were lifelong friends. Dad purchased a small place up on a hillside outside of Brogan, Oregon, along the John Day Highway, where he resided until his passing.

A sense of humor and sometimes crude, was something Dad never lacked nor was afraid to show. For entertainment purposes, he would put his old, dirty, grey felt cowboy work hat on sideways and talk in a goofy voice, bringing laughs from his daughters and whoever else was around to witness his shenanigans. If a question were asked of him, Dad would sometimes give the reply “Does a bear…in the woods”?

Hunting was another lifelong passion of Dad's. It’s not recalled that he ever missed a season; the opportunity to get a big buck or elk as well as provide nourishment for his family. Wild game mounts of an antelope and a buck are proudly displayed on his living room wall. Dad also enjoyed his mid-August fishing and crabbing trip to Winchester Bay, Oregon, with his lifelong friend, Tom Dodge. Dad took pride in returning home with crab and salmon to share amongst his family.

Later in life, Dad preferred to stay home with his little dog, Rosie. He loved to watch old westerns, NFL games, college ball, or the NFR. At family get-togethers for holidays, birthday celebrations, and weddings, Dad would attend; often he was the first to excuse himself in order to avoid driving at night. Dad could be found cheering his grandchildren on at their various sporting events or helping his daughter and son-in-law out with their yearly brandings.

Because of Dad’s life interests, he leaves behind many close friends, near and far.

Dad is preceded in death by his parents, his older half-sister, Pat Leep, and his younger brother, Ron Leep.

Dad leaves behind his ex-wife and life-long friend, Janet McCornack; daughters, Ivy (Raymond) Smith and Charity (Lee IV) Wright; grandchildren, Ben (Lilly) Cardenas, Selby (Jake) Morris, Olivia (Chase) Stoddard and Kyla (James) Bryan; great-grandchildren, Gray and Gus Bezates and Jase Morris.

Finally, Dad, “God saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered, ‘Come with Me’. With tearful eyes we watched you slowly fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we would not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, your hard-working hands put to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.”

We’ll see you in Heaven, Dad. “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21.

At Mike's request, no formal services will be held.

In the coming weeks, Mike's family will gather privately to scatter his ashes in the Brogan, Oregon hills where he harvested his last buck. His son-in-law, Lee, remembers the exact place, and the family feels there could be no more fitting final resting place. It is a place Mike loved, and where they believe he would have wanted to be remembered.

Our family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the many kind words, prayers, phone calls, and messages of support during this difficult time. Your love and friendship have meant more to us than words can express.