Obituary of Leslie Cantin

Leslie Merlin Cantin

July 7, 1948 - September 29, 2023

Les Cantin passed away on September 29th at the age of 75 from long-term health issues.  He spent his youth living on Sunnyside RD in Clackamas County in a home built by his parents Merlin and Inetia. The house was located on acreage large enough for a barn, sheep, horses and a Steer named T-Bone that Les raised for 4H.  There was more than enough property and a creek for a young boy to explore.   At age 7, Les had a medical emergency that required one of his Kidneys to be removed.  There is a photo in the family album of him after the surgery with several notes attached to his shirt.  One of those notes read “Want to see my scar? 10 cents”  He was a graduate of Clackamas High School in 1966 where he was on the Cross Country Team and played in the Band. He married Judy Kisor and they had two children, Delaina Runestrand and Bryan Cantin.  

 

His jobs included Dishwasher/Cook in Choteau, Montana,  Ambulance Driver, Architect, Dispatcher for Clackamas Fire District and Long Haul Truck Driver. His hobbies over the years were Softball, Hunting, Fishing, Gardening and Cooking for family and friends.  According to his daughter Delaina, he was a Great Cook!

 

Les loved to cook with the latest in kitchen utensils.  One of his favorite dishes to make was Pasty Pie (meat and potato pie).  This was, and still is a Cantin Family favorite that was originally made by his Grandmother and Mother.  Les and his sisters were the third generation to make Pasty, and now it's being made by the fifth generation.   According to Les, a good Pasty Pie needs to be baked in a glass pie plate, not a metal one.

 

“Dad would pick Bryan and I up after school. He would ask what we wanted to do for the afternoon. Bryan and I would want to listen to the fire department scanner. If there was a fire somewhere we would want to go watch the firefighters work. If not, we would want to go walk through an under construction home that dad designed. Bryan became a firefighter and I enjoy interior design.”  (This is a memory recalled by Les’s daughter Delaina)  

 

Les is survived by his Mother (age 97), 3 Sisters, 2 Children, and 4 Grandchildren. A private family service will be held Oct. 28. 

 

In lieu of flowers, you can donate to Professional Firefighters of Clackamas County Local IAFF Local 1159 Foundation or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

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