The gates of Heaven opened to welcome Leon Rustand into the arms of his Lord and Savior early morning on Monday, February 22, 2021.
Leon’s Funeral Service will be at 9 a.m., Friday, February 26, 2021 at the Prairie Winds United Methodist Church, Dickinson. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military Honors will be provided by the Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. There will be a Gathering of Family and Friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will also be one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Leon was born November 26, 1937 in Fergus Falls, Minn. to Leonard and Lillian (Nodland) Rustand following his twin brother, Larry into the world. He moved to Bismarck when he was about five years old along with his parents and siblings. He attended Bismarck Public Schools and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1956. He and Larry each had paper routes to deliver the Bismarck Tribune for several years. He was proud of the fact that they could help their family that way. After high school he attended Bismarck Junior College (now Bismarck State College) for two years. In November 1958 he and Larry enlisted in the Air Force and they served four years together in Texas and Oklahoma. In October 1962 he was discharged and came back to Bismarck where he did some insurance adjusting before deciding to further his education. He enrolled at Dickinson State Teachers College (now Dickinson State University) under the GI Bill. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work. He started his career in social work in Mott and later was Dunn County Social Service Director in Killdeer. He then went to work for the State Human Service Department at Badlands Human Service Center, retiring in 2000. Following retirement he did some seat belt surveys and also drove vehicles for Dan Porter Motors for a few years.
In 1977 he married Lynda Erickson in Bismarck and they made their home in Dickinson. He was a great Dad to his sons, Lorin and Lance and Lance’s wife, Lacey. Leon had many interests, but loved cars. Just ask him what year a car was and he could tell you plus tell you what he was doing that year. He enjoyed driving to his Nodland grandparents in Dunn County and would tell us who lived where.
Leon was never short of kindness and empathy. He was kindness personified, but if you had a dog, the dog got priority.
He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his aunts and uncles. Leon is survived by his wife, Lynda; sons, Lorin and Lance (Lacey), Dickinson; siblings, Larry, Bismarck, June (May) Keim, Arizona, Jerry (Liz), Texas, Keith (Marilyn), Florida, Tanna Reopelle (special friend, Dennis Smith), Fargo and Arizona, Steve, Bismarck, and Vickie Town, Wash. He was a special uncle to many nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Special Olympics or donors preference.
