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Mass of Christian Burial for Richard Leonard, 91, of Mobridge will be at 11 AM, Saturday, October 26, 2019, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mobridge. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 5:30 PM at the Parish Hall, with a Liturgical Wake Service at 7:30 PM Friday at the church. Richard passed away Saturday, October 19, 2019, at the Mobridge Regional Hospital surrounded by family.

Richard (Dick) William Leonard was born November 28, 1927 in Minneapolis, MN to Albert Dewey and Claire Rose (Arsenault) Leonard. He was raised there and graduated from Washburn High School, class of 1945. In his teen years Dick was very athletic and excelled at competitive ice skating on the lakes in the Twin Cities.

While attending the University of Minnesota, Dick was drafted into the Navy, serving as a key punch operator at Great Lakes, Illinois for two years. He returned to the University to study engineering. During that time, he developed a passion for photography and opened a small studio.

One day he was hired by a young lady from Mobridge to photograph her wedding which was being held in the Twin Cities. The bride informed him that Mobridge needed a photographer, as the previous photographer had recently passed away. That sounded adventurous to Dick, so in April of 1950 he traveled by train to Mobridge and opened Leonard Studio next to the Mobridge Auditorium on Main Street.

On October 10 ^th , 1950 while photographing the wedding of Jack and Clara Perman in Timber Lake, SD, Dick met Loretta Schweitzer, a bridesmaid and first cousin to Clara. Following an eight-month courtship the couple married on June 11, 1951, in Berlin, ND where Loretta had been raised. They returned to Mobridge where they raised their family and built their business. To this union nine children were born: Bill, Mary (born prematurely, living only 36 hours, following Loretta having contracted Polio), Susan, Theresa, Cindy, Patty, Jerry, Rick and Tom.

Dick was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing and boating on Lake Oahe with his family. He shared his love of hunting with his sons and taught all of his children how to water ski. He also gave them a love for ice skating. He truly loved his family.

Dick was active in many organizations in Mobridge, such as Couples Dance Club, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. He was a charter member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He also served as president of the State of SD Photographer's Association, and you'll have to ask his family about the German Schnapps Dick made and served, a talent learned from his father-in-law.

Dick loved his Catholic faith and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for over 69 years. He participated as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Choir Member, Rosary Leader, Greeter and served on the Parish Council. Dick was a fourth degree Knight and served as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus for one year. He was awarded, along with his wife, the honor of being KC Family of the Year in 2003, for the state of SD. Dick was also a defender of the unborn, actively participating in Right to Life causes.

Dick is survived by his wife Loretta of 68 years, four sons, Bill (Marie), Jerry, Rick (Jackie), Tom (Pam), four daughters, Susan (Steve) Schatz, Theresa (Steve) Schneider, Cindy (Monty) Miller, Patty (Guy) Kraft, 24 Grand-Children and 45 Great Grand-Children, one sister, Catherine Hartman of Minneapolis and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert and Jerry, sister, Mary Claire, infant daughter, Mary, and grandson, Joshua Leonard.