He married Vada Burgess on June 15, 1944 who preceded him in death in 2001. After losing his wife of more than fifty years, a severe fall from his horse, and a serious operation for skin cancer he met and enjoyed the love and companionship of Nita Hauer who was with him at the time of his passing.

As soon as Lenard could get both legs on each side of the horse, he became a horseman. He rode everywhere whether it was to fish, to hunt, to go to work or go to a dance.  His time of packing for the Tillamook burn when he was just out of high school made for an exciting story. He loved his part in the Mt. Adams Story in 1952. He spent many pleasurable hours leading trail rides out of Smokey Creek and riding in the play days with West Klickitat Posse.

Lenard served in the Army Tank Division during WWII.  After getting married in 1944, he made his living as a logger, farmer, and his last thirty three years before retirement as the mechanic at Dickey Farms. His design and construction of the packing shed was one of his proudest achievements.