Richard Dean Leach

Our beloved husband and father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Richard Dean Leach, age 90, of Hot Springs Village, left us peacefully and changed his address to a heavenly one on Monday, October 21, 2024. He was born June 17, 1934, in Phillip, South Dakota, to the late Dr. John V. Leach and Edna Blessing Leach.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Marjorie Uhrich Leach and sister, Pat Leach Walton, and Jessica Joy Nolden, step-granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife, Rev. Wanda L. Murray Leach, 3 daughters, Renaye Leach (Dana Cotant) of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, Dr. Michelle Bensen, of Hot Springs Village, AR, and Melissa Leach of Madison, Wisconsin, 1 son, Randall Leach who disappeared in 1980; 2 step-daughters, Lynette Bat-Abba and Yvette Jones, both of Fountain Lake, AR, 1 step-son Osborne McClintic of Story, AR, brother, Gary Leach (Mary Ann), of Plainfield, VT, brother-in- law, Dr. Jerry Walton of Sioux Falls, SD, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a wonderful, exceptional and loving father and grandfather to Marjorie's 4-children, 8- grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; as well as Wanda's 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Dick was a graduate of Vermillion High School, Vermillion, SD; Dakota Weslyan University in Mitchell, SD; Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado; studied for his Doctorate at Phillips University in Marburg-Lahn, West Germany. He pastored United Methodist Churches in Colorado, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. He was Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Lakeland University, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for 31-years before retiring in 1999.

He found great joy and comfort attending Village Bible Church where he sang in the choir, served two terms on the Elder Board, and taught many Bible classes during his 17-years at VBC. We are grateful for the many friends met during our time at VBC. His students in the University as well as in the various churches where he helped serve loved him as their teacher and instructor. Dick and Wanda loved and enjoyed their 17 cruises to various locations around the world. He was very instrumental in helping Wanda in their United Methodist Church ministries in Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Hospice Home Care along with family caregivers for their loving compassion and support which has been deeply appreciated especially over the last few weeks while Dick was under the care of Hospice.

A celebration of Dick's life will be held at Village Bible Church, HSV, with Pastors Levan Hubbard and Jim Neal on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 1:00pm.

Interment of Ashes

Our father, Richard Dean Leach, in accordance with his wishes, will have his ashes placed in his family cemetery plot in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, where a tombstone has been prepared for him since 1989. He will be laid to rest at the side of his wife, Marjorie Mae (Uhrich) Leach, adjoining the memorial of his son, Randall Dean Leach. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held in the spring or summer of 2025.

In love and reverent remembrance,

Renaye Leach, Michelle Bensen, Melissa Leach