Hot Springs deacon marked 20th anniversary in diaconate

Deacon Leland "Lee" Leckner, who served St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs, died May 18. He was 67.

Leckner was born April 18, 1956, to Paul Earl and Helen Faye Leckner in Pratt, Kan. Raised in a large extended family, he graduated from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kan. While living in Dodge City in 1981, he met his wife Dianna. The couple were married Feb. 6, 1982, and raised a family.

He was a rehabilitation counselor for the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind in Fort Smith before becoming the assistant director of Field Services for DSB. His final role was as an organizational consultant for the Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program of the University of Arkansas, from which he retired in 2003.

He was ordained a deacon Dec. 14, 2002. He spent his remaining years concentrating on ministry as a deacon, including volunteering at CHI St. Vincent and at St. Mary Parish.

He is survived by his wife, Dianna West Leckner; two sons, James Leckner and Paul Leckner, both of Hot Springs; one daughter, Holly P. West of Morrilton; one sister, Sharon Archer of Derby, Kan.; and two grandchildren.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article and headline incorrectly stated Leckner's ordination year. This article has been updated.

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