Final Salute

Leonard “Stoney” Clarence Fugate, 74, passed away on August 21, 2026, at North Valley Whitefish Hospital, MT. He was born on September 26, 1951, in Fresno, CA, to Wayne and Jackie Fugate. He was the oldest out of 5 children.
After Stoney graduated from Coalinga High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Navy Seabee from 1969-1975. After the Navy he received his bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry (breeding cows) from Fresno State and then went to farrier school in Texas to learn horseshoeing. Stoney came back to California and went on to work as a welder in the Central California Oil fields. In the 80’s he began a career with the California Department of Correction. He held the positions as a Correctional Officer, Corrections Lieutenant & Corrections Counselor lll until his retirement in 2009. While working for the California Department of Corrections Stoney met Elizabeth Harold and they married on June 18, 1993, at Las Vegas, NV. After retiring in 2009 Elizabeth and Stoney moved to Fortine, MT, where he spent his first few years in Montana serving as the commander of the American Legion Post #74. His hobbies were watching John Wayne nature & war movies, sailing, bull-riding, guns, shooting sports & tending to their property.
Stoney is preceded in death by his parents Wayne and Jackie Fugate and sister Royce. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; daughter Theresa; brothers Jim and Tim; sister Rosemary; and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Stoney’s Life will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, 11:00 a.m., at the Fortine Cemetery. Following the services will be a gathering at the Eureka VFW Post #6786 in Eureka, MT. Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg and Riddle Funeral Home of Eureka. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.

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