Leo Henry Sommer

Leo was born in 1930, during the Great Depression, to Swiss immigrants Dr. Casper (DVM) and Monica (Frei) Sommer, living in Wendell, Idaho and was the fourth of 9 children. The family moved to Cottonwood, ID where there were other Swiss family members and then to Meridian, ID in 1937, where there were dairy cows needing a veterinarian.

The family then started a farming operation that was hand-milking Jersey cows. Leo learned to harness a team of horses at six-years-old and advanced to growing hay and grain for their herd. He later worked for neighboring dairymen doing the same work.

In 1949, Leo joined the Air Force and was stationed in Japan (1950), then sent to support the Korean Conflict. He was trained as a mechanic for the new Lockhead F-80 Shooting Star jet that the Air Force would rely on to start the Korean air battles. He also was known to work on tanks and drive trucks; using a wide range of skills he learned on the farm and would successfully use for the rest of his life. He acquired several military honors and the rank of Staff Sergeant during his time in the service.

He returned to Idaho in 1952 and worked for local dairymen. In 1954, he joined I.O.N. (Idaho, Oregon, Nevada) Cattle Company, led by Dean Abrahms, a prominent cattle buyer. The I.O.N. operation he managed relied on Leo’s skill at raising cattle, and he would soon learn the details of buying them. The operation had an ambitious plan for order-buying cattle for other feedlot operations. They were also buying cattle for their own feedlot, purchasing the lowest cost cattle breeds and feeding them to finish. I.O.N.’s reach was far and involved weekly trips to California with semi loads of cattle coming and going. During his years at I.O.N., Leo met and married Betty Pollard. The I.O.N Cattle company ended in 1984.

In 1986, Leo met John Ascuaga, owner of John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nevada, and developed a wonderful personal relationship with John and his significant livestock operation. For the next 28 years he managed four ranches, including a cow-calf operation, haying operation, a feedlot, pure-bred Herefords, an annual cattle drive between Smith Valley, NV and Bridgeport, CA ranches, and helped care for Bertha, the elephant who was an icon of the casino.

Smith Valley, NV brought Leo many friends and a wonderful life in the agricultural industry with the ability to utilize all of his skills and knowledge. He was a great leader of the men he managed and a leader in the beef industry.

Leo is survived by his wife of 55 years , Betty Sommer; sisters Chris Klotz, Rita Elliott, Dorthy Giffen; children Tim(Tamara) Sommer, Andy (Kathy) Sommer, Sam (Shannon) Sommer, Chris (Jake) Wolfe and Jamie (Chance) Gee; Peggy (Jim) Cook, Jim (Patti) Davis, Cheryl (Kevin) Murdock , 13 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, and extended family.