Leland Ruegsegger

Leland Ruegsegger passed away on Feb. 25th at his home in Otis Orchards, Wash. Leland was born in Libby, Mont. on Dec. 15, 1954.

His father Eldon, was a logger at that time. Leland loved to ride with him in his big truck. Leland had two dogs, Sam and Mollie. Leland would always share his ice cream cones with them. Leland had many animals over the years.

In 1962 Leland’s family purchased a farm near his grandpa Rudy and moved to Dillon, Mont., His favorite was a horse named cocoa. He would ride coca in the Dillon Labor Days parade every year. His mother would always sew a new outfit for him to wear, Along with a small blanket for the horse. In Sept. of 1962 Leland’s family moved to Dillon, Mont. when he was 7 years old. His parents farmed and raised hay and dry land wheat. When Leland was 17 years old, his parents bought a dry land wheat farm five miles west of Ritzville Wash. This is where Leland learned to love farming. He was happy to sit for hours driving tractor, a combine or truck. He found so much satisfaction in raising wheat, barley, peas and canola. Leland found joy in working on tractors and trucks. So much so that he enrolled in the Diesel Mechanics Program at Utah Technical College in Provo, Utah. This is where he met his wife of 45 years, Jeanie. After Graduation, they moved back to Ritzville to continue farming with his family. Leland and Jeanie have four sons; Joshua, Jared, Jason and Justin. Leland was so proud of his sons and loved them very much. He has instilled in them a love of hard work, service and of family.