Lela Handran

Lela Lucille Handran, 100, formerly of Wolf Point and Scobey, died March 29, 2024.

She was born at home in Agency, Mo., on July 18,1933, to Cecil and Inez Leonard. She had a twin brother, Leland, join her as well. She often mentioned that Leland was a gentleman right from the beginning as he said ladies first and stepped aside for her to be born first. She had an older brother, Jim; younger brother, Chester; and two younger sisters, Barbara and Cecile. She started school in a two-room schoolhouse in Willow Brook, Mo., and attended Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo., for the first three years. Her family moved and she graduated from high school in Lone Star, Colo., in 1951. Some of her best memories from her younger years included rollerskating with her brothers and working at F. W Woolworths in Sterling, Colo.

In September 1955, she traveled to Scobey to visit her sister, Barbara, and her husband, Dick Bennis. They took her to Silver Star Hall to watch a Little Oscar play and dance. During the show, Dick introduced her to his “friend,” Michael Handran. The couple married April 17, 1956. They lived on the Handran hill and raised eight children.

She loved getting lost in various parts of the country and bringing along grandchildren and seeing her family along the way. Her love of family led her to many adventures to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren across the United States. Her never-ending faith in Jesus gave her the confidence to know she would always find her way. She instilled that faith in all her children.

After raising her family and sending them out into the world to make it a better place, she decided it was time to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a CNA. She went to work at Faith Home in Wolf Point. She also worked as a CNA at Daniels Memorial Home and Just Like Home in Scobey.

She spent her 90th birthday with her twin brother, Leland, in Sun City, Ariz., last July thanks in large part to her daughter, Pam, taking her on yet another adventure. She loved spending hours tending to her garden, stoking the fire in the burn barrel and crushing cans in the kitchen around midnight.

She moved to Miles City in January 2023 to be closer to her daughter, Pam.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael, after 46 years; son, David; granddaughters, Lauren Handran and Erin Hurr; brother, Chester Leonard; and sister, Barbara Ediger.

She is survived by her sons, Steven, Gary and Ron; daughters, Patty Christman, Peggy Cox, Penny Dimino and Pam Hurr; 27 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren (and counting).

Her funeral service was held Tuesday, April 2, at the Scobey Assembly of God.