Leroy Barland, 99, Washburn, passed away June 27, 2023, in a Mandan care center. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Edwins Catholic Church, Washburn. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Bismarck Funeral Home and from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. at St. Edwins Catholic Church, Washburn.
Leroy Francis Barland was born July 4, 1923, to Olive Oetna (Saindon) and Napoleon Joseph Barland in Damar, Kansas. He was the 2 nd youngest of 10 surviving children. During middle school, he moved to LeCompton, Kansas and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Beloit, Kansas. During World War II, he served in the Navy in the Mediterranean Theater. Leroy married Bernice Amelia Bennett December 28, 1953, in Mankato, KS and they had four children. Leroy retired from the Bureau of Reclamation as an inspector where he worked on several projects in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona. After retiring, he and Bernice moved to Coleharbor, ND to be near their children. After Bernice died in 1997, he moved and lived in Washburn for more than 20 years. Last December, Leroy moved into assisted living at Augusta Place, where fellow residents and staff became another “family”. Just recently, Leroy felt very privileged and honored to accompany his dear friend Tom Merkel in the Washburn Riverboat Days parade.
Leroy lived a full life. His employment took him and his family to a variety of locations. They lived in both the city and the country. They had donkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats, turkeys, chickens, goats (which he would get mad at when they jumped on his car), horses, and a pet pig. When it came time to butcher, he had to look everywhere – under beds, in dressers and crates and even in the mattresses. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, working in his flower beds, tinkering with things, playing cards and was very competitive when it came to bean bag tosses and horseshoes. He also enjoyed a healthy debate among friends and family – occasionally winning one here and there. He genuinely cherished socializing with people and making new friends. He was always glad to see people and always had a bright smile on his face.
Survivors include: 3 children: Joseph Barland of Hazen, Janice “JB” (friend Doc Scheive, Coleharbor) Barland of Mandan, and Margaret (Thomas) Stadick of Mandan; 1 brother: Jerome (Donna) Barland of Brookings, OR; 5 grandchildren: Rachel Brandle, Jeremy Brandle, Danielle (Brad Bickmore) Stadick; Jessica (Jesse) Stadick-Feist, and Nicole (Scott) Rivinius; 2 great-grandchildren: Kailey and Madden; and many dear nieces and nephews. Those preceding him in death include his wife, Bernice; his infant daughter, Mary Katheryn; his parents, Olive and Napoleon; 2 brothers: Raymond and Delmar; 6 sisters: Evelyn, Dorothy, Bea, Jeanette, Rosamond and Victorine.