Leonard O. Rice

Leonard O. Rice, 92, a retired Minot, ND businessman, died peacefully at his home in Pagosa Springs, CO, the evening of March 18th, 2025, a short five months after his wife, Marian had passed.

Leonard Olia Rice was born March 4th, 1933, on the family farm east of Mohall, ND, to (Peder) Milton and Bertina (Ostlund) Rice. Leonard grew up working on the farm and competing in sports while attending school in Mohall. His childhood and teenage years were also shaped by his 11-year membership with 4-H, culminating in a state-wide competition as a member of the Renville Livestock 4-H Club. In 1951, Leonard took home the sweepstake honors as the highest individual scorer at the Tri-County Livestock Judging Contest. The following month his 4-H Club team representing Bottineau County took top honors in livestock judging at the Minot State Fair. Leonard was then named to a 3-man team representing NW North Dakota at the multi-state judging competition in Fargo, ending just in time to hustle back to the farm for harvest.

As the oldest son still at home on the family farm, Leonard’s senior year in high school was busy with farm work, participating in sports, and attending school, apparently in that order. He was known to miss school for work on the farm and then show up to participate in the HS football game later in the day. The same occurred during spring with HS baseball. Through the winter, he was able to participate fully in school and his favorite sport, basketball. A December 1951 newspaper clipping described the Mohall Yellow Jackets team as having “fought savagely” for a 40-39 win over the Bottineau Braves, in Bottineau. It goes on to state “twelve points were scored in the final quarter by Mohall, to the opponents 4. Rice scored the winning basket with 20 seconds to go after his teammates had made a good passing attack. A bounce pass by Zimmerman gave Rice his chance.” Leonard typically made the most of any chances that came his way.

Leonard graduated from Mohall High School in 1952. He continued farming, attended a year at North Dakota State School of Forestry in Bottineau and joined the National Guard. He began playing amateur basketball and made his way onto the Lansford Blue Devils team who had previously won the inaugural 1952 North Dakota State Amateur Basketball Tournament Championship. With Leonard and 19 others, Lansford Blue Devils won 4 of the first 5 years of the North Dakota Amateur Basketball tournament and are now in the Hall of Fame.

Early in 1954, Leonard met Marian Joyce Handeland at a Lansford, ND spring dance and was completely smitten. The two were married on November 21st, 1954. Although Leonard continued to help with the family farm until 1994, once married, he began looking for other avenues to support their family. He spent 2 years working for Kiewit Construction laying runways for the Minot Air Force Base. 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 at Broadway and 14th Ave SW. Standard Oil recognized his continuous high ratings for cleanliness and customer service, naming him as grand champion regional dealer just 5 months after starting. He was awarded a trip to Chicago and given a gold engraved watch. A year later Standard selected Leonard as a dealer trainer to help give new dealers the best start in business. During this time Leonard and Marian began their family and the Minot roots were set.

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 ND House of Representatives, serving 2 consecutive terms where he worked on the Education, Finance, Taxation and Veterans Affairs Committees.

Leonard was an active member of the First Lutheran Church in Minot and served on the church council. He also served on the board of the American Red Cross and the National Dealers Advisory Council for American Oil Co. He was a member of numerous organizations including American Legion, Elks, and Kiwanis. Basketball, softball, and later tennis were his primary physical outlets, sponsoring and playing on several recreational teams from the 60’s through the early 80’s.

In 1986, Leonard and Marian bought a winter home in Scottsdale AZ, traveling between ND and Arizona annually. In 1995, they vacationed in Pagosa Springs, CO for a week and fell in love with the area and surrounding mountains. They purchased ranch land and built a home with majestic views of the continental divide, making it an easy decision to spend their remaining years at this home. Leonard was still active in business, horse and cattle ranching, and volunteer work in the area up to 2020.

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; sisters: Alice Olson, Julia Bennett, Myrtle Miller, and Elaine Rice.

A Memorial service is planned at the Pagosa Bible Church on April 27th at 11:15 am following their regular Sunday church service.

A second service honoring both Marian and Leonard Rice will be held at First Lutheran Church in Minot, ND on Friday, June 20th at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at the church and a grave side service at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 2:30 pm.

The Rice family would like to thank all who knew and loved Leonard and Marian through the years, their friends, extended family and business associates in North Dakota, Arizona, and Colorado. Their final years in Colorado took them back to experiences they had growing up on family farms, at peace with nature, and a smaller community life.

Peace and love to you all.