Leona Gertrude Strickland Yates Albert January 23, 1924 - July 12, 2014

Born to William (Bill) P. Strickland and Lena G. Wilson Strickland in Hot Springs Idaho on January 23, 1924; Leona G. Albert lived a full and varied life as the daughter of sheep herders and horse wranglers in Bruneau, Idaho.

She passed away at Ochoco Care Center in Prineville, Oregon on July 12, 2014 at the age of 90-and-1/2 years with granddaughter Kara and Kara's husband, Pat, at her side.

The family moved to Oregon in 1962, where she married John E. Albert, the foreman of the Lazy Z Ranch in Sisters. Together, they managed the ranch for almost 25 years until the passing of John. Prior to her marriage to John, she was married to Norman D. (Tom) Yates of Bruneau, Idaho.

Her interests included fishing, bowling, cooking, gardening, sewing, and deer and elk hunting with her family. After her family was raised, she found her talent in acrylic painting. She created many paintings of the Three Sisters Mountains on saws of all sizes. She made a recording of her life stories and wrote stories of their early lives for each of her children.

She was a life-long member of the Home Rebekah Lodge #61.

She was the first cook at Black Butte Ranch Lodge in the early 1970s, preparing tasty soups ladled out to the customers in individual black tureens. In 1982 she authored a cookbook titled "Sagebrush Memories" that contained not only rib-sticking recipes, but charming anecdotes of her life growing up in the Bruneau Valley. Her youth was spent on the back of a horse, herding sheep up in the mountains. She was truly a Pioneer Lady.

She is survived by sister Fern Graham, Bruneau, Idaho; five children and their spouses Letha G. DeForest (Larry); Norma J. Tewalt (Rick); Beckie G. Zimmerman (Gary Miller), all of Sisters; John (Oat) Albert (Darcy), Howard, South Dakota and James J. Albert (Theresa), Alfalfa; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by husbands Tom and John; brother, Grant Strickland, Bruneau, Idaho; sisters, Mabel DeForest, Bruneau, Idaho and Marjorie Vitalie, Elko, Nevada; infant brother Oscar; and infant great-grandbaby Warren.

There will be a Memorial and potluck barbecue on August 16 at 1 p.m. at Three Creek Lake, one of her favorite fishing holes. Bring a fishing pole and worm to drown in her honor.

Donations may be given in her name to Prineville Hospice or Ochoco Care Center.