August 22, 1956 - April 20, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Len was born on August 22, 1956 in Williams Lake, BC as the second child of Jeannine and Fidèle LeBlanc. The family lived in Lac la Hache, BC. Len left school early and discovered the joy of cattle ranching in the Cariboo as a ranch hand for Jack Alexander, despite being allergic to both dust and cows.
On June 24, 1974, Len married Darlene Hammond in Chilliwack, BC. They lived in Lac la Hache for six years where they started their family with their first three children, Candy, Dustin and Mitch. When he wasn't ranching for Jack, or Wendell Monical, Len would occasionally work for his dad's company, Little Frog Logging, alongside his brothers, Donald and Lawrence.
Len joined the RCMP in 1979. He dove into his work and moved up the ranks quickly by solving several old cases, which earned him respect within his community and among his colleagues. However, his dedication to his work took its toll and he knew he needed something new.
The family moved back to the Cariboo in 1985 where he resumed working as a ranch hand. Their fourth child, Melissa, was born in 1990. In 1994, Len and Darlene bought Hart Lake Ranch in Big Lake, BC, where they finally settled into the steady rhythm of ranch life.
However, Len was never too good at sitting still and once the routines settled into place, he took up team roping. Len took to team roping with vigour, winning events worldwide over the next couple decades with prizes of cash, saddles, belt buckles and horse trailers.
Cancer came calling in 2007 and Len initially intended to let nature run its course, but with one daughter still at home, he decided to seek medical care. Luckily, the wheels were already in motion to sell Hart Lake Ranch and that burden was taken from his hands while he went through treatment.
Of course, Len continued team roping; making friends and training horses along the way. In 2016 Len and Darlene visited their daughter in Australia, where he attended the 2016 Australasian Team Roping Championship and made connections in Australia and New Zealand that would see him return for the next several years.
Len and Darlene settled in Vernon in 2017, where Len continued riding, roping, and living life to the fullest, even when the cancer came back in 2021.
Len was predeceased by his father and his brother Lawrence.
He is survived by his wife Darlene, children Candy, Dustin, Mitch, and Melissa and six grandchildren, as well as his mother, Jeannine, brother Donald (Karen) LeBlanc, and sisters Julie (Tom) Pinette and Monique (Ivan) Goward; several sister and brother in laws, and many nieces and nephews.
Len was honest and candid in everything he did, loved mentoring and family, and always rooted for the underdog.
Len's last ride was in Vernon on May 11, 2024, with many family and friends in attendance.