Leonard O. Rice, 92, a retired Minot, N.D., businessman, died peacefully at his home in Pagosa Springs, Colo., the evening of March 18, 2025, a short five months after his wife, Marian, had passed.
A memorial service is planned at the Pagosa Bible Church on Sunday, April 27, at 11:15 a.m. following the regular Sunday church service.
A second service honoring both Marian and Leonard Rice will be held at First Lutheran Church in Minot, N.D., on June 20 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the church and a grave side service at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 2:30 p.m.
Leonard Olia Rice was born March 4, 1933, on the family farm east of Mohall, N.D., to (Peder) Milton and Bertina (Ostlund) Rice. Leonard grew up working on the farm, competing in sports and participating in the regional 4-H club while attending school in Mohall.
He graduated from Mohall High School in 1952 and continued farming while attending a year at North Dakota State School of Forestry in Bottineau and participating in the National Guard.
Early in 1954, Leonard met the love of his life, Marian Joyce Handeland, at a Lansford, N.D., spring dance. The two were married on Nov. 21, 1954. Leonard continued to farm, but also began looking for other avenues to support his family. In 1956, Leonard and Marian made the decision to move to Minot, where he began working for Standard Oil as a local salesman. The following year he became a Standard Oil dealer, opening Rice’s Standard Service Station. Standard Oil recognized his continuous high ratings for cleanliness and customer service, naming him as grand champion regional dealer just five months after starting.
Leonard was well-known for his strong work ethic, which served him throughout his life. He expanded his service station business by establishing Rice Oil Co., a distributor of fuel, gas, oil and tires for local farms and businesses, and operating several gas stations in town and eventually throughout the state.
In 1970, he was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives, serving two consecutive terms where he worked on the Education, Finance, Taxation and Veterans Affairs committees.
In 1986, Leonard and Marian bought a winter home in Scottsdale Ariz., traveling between North Dakota and Arizona annually. In 1995, while vacationing in Pagosa Springs, Colo., they fell in love with the area and surrounding mountains. They purchased ranch land and built a home with majestic views of the Continental Divide. Leonard and Marian were active members of Pagosa Bible Church and kept busy with horse and cattle ranching. They loved their final years in Colorado that took them back to experiences they had growing up on family farms, at peace with nature and a smaller community life.
Leonard is survived by his children, Cindee Rice, Susan Schneider (Steve), Jon T. Rice (Sherry) and Deborah Rice; sisters Carol LeTourneau, Betty Petterson (Gary) and Linda Girard; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Bertina; brothers Bennie, Paul and Edward Rice; and sisters Alice Olson, Julia Bennett, Myrtle Miller and Elaine Rice.
