To view a livestream of the service access https://flcminot.com/view-worship/ or https://www.youtube.com/@FirstLutheranMinot/streams
Richard Conrad Leite, 96, Minot, ND passed away at Trinity Hospital on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
He was born in Williston, North Dakota, the second child of Conrad and Thora (Thompson) Leite, on May 18, 1929. He learned important life lessons and began developing his mechanical skills, helping his dad work on cars and helping his uncles Knute and John Thompson, on the farm near Ray. The family moved to Minot in 1940. Richard attended Model School, graduating in 1948. In 1951, his start at college was interrupted by the Korean War, with his deployment to France, where he worked as a machinist on a U2 spy plane base.
Following the Army, Richard (Dick) reentered Minot State Normal School (MSU) where he earned a teaching degree in 1953. He was active in the chorus, singing bass, and Lutheran Student Association, where he met many lifelong friends. One of these turned out to be the love of his life, Maxine Cilke. They were married on June 27, 1955. Dick continued his studies and got a master’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota in 1954. He began a career as industrial arts teacher in Grand Forks and at Rock Lake High School. He then taught at Minot High School until 1969, and later at Carpio, North Dakota, until his retirement in 1985. During summers, Dick did carpentry jobs, including building the family home in rural Minot. After “retirement”, Dick worked as the maintenance person at First Lutheran Church in Minot for many years, where he was greatly appreciated.
Dick proudly lent his bass voice to the First Lutheran church choir until he was 90 years old. He also was among the founding members of Minot’s Nodakords barbershop chorus and sang with them and in various barbershop quartets for more than 50 years. He also loved playing chess, working leather, and later in life, meeting friends over coffee. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Minot and served in several leadership roles there.
Dick is survived by his wife Maxine (Cilke), son Michael (Nancy Sharps) of Chadron, Nebraska; daughter Kimberlee (James Yockim) of rural Ray, North Dakota and San Tan Valley, Arizona; and son David (Linda Olson) of Minot; two grandsons, nine great-grandchildren, many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents and sister Clarice Moellering.
Celebration of Life for Dick will be held on Tuesday, February 24, at 11:00 AM at First Lutheran Church in Minot. Lunch will follow. To view a livestream of the service access https://flcminot.com/view-worship/ or https://www.youtube.com/@FirstLutheranMinot/streams
Visitation: Monday February 23, at 5pm to 7pm at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, in spring.
Memorials can be sent to Minot’s First Lutheran Church “Renewing for Tomorrow” fund or the Organ maintenance fund.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Richard ‘Dick’ Leite, please click here to visit our sympathy store.
