Leon Arthur Bomhoff passed away March 4, 2026, at the age of 83. He was born to parents, Betty and Alvin Bomhoff in El Reno, where he grew up alongside his sisters, Beverly and Judy. 

He attended Lutheran School in Okarche through sixth grade and graduated with the El Reno High School Class of 1957.

Leon married Sherry Smith and from that union was blessed with two children, Troy Dean and Lisa Dawn. He loved his children and worked hard to provide a good life for them. Leon had a strong work ethic that he passed on to them.

Generally speaking, I’ve always considered myself a “techno-optimist,” sometimes perhaps to the point of Panglossianism.

As a teen, I embraced those new-fangled “microcomputers,” and as a 20-something the World Wide Web, with enthusiasm.

Celeste Leonard Rule Nelson came home last week. 

The 1947 graduate of Sacred Heart High School, who now lives in Oklahoma City, came with family. They made a beeline to Johnnie’s Grill. It was there they met up with Brian Rukes and talked old times. 

Rukes is an El Reno High School teacher and District Historian who could talk El Reno history all day.

And while Rukes can talk history, it was the 95-year-old Celeste, seated across the booth from him, who actually lived much of it. 

Canadian County lawmen have been involved in a couple of major drug incidents recently. One resulted in charges being filed, while another apparently allowed a pair of suspected smugglers to slip through the cracks.

On Feb. 22, a traffic stop by a sheriff’s deputy resulted in the seizure of 80 pounds of illegal marijuana as well as a 9mm handgun.