Reuben E Liechty

Reuben E. Liechty, 86, of Jamestown, North Dakota died on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He passed away from complications of congestive heart failure at the Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Reuben was born on February 17, 1935, on the family farm south of Brinsmade, North Dakota. He was the sixth son of John and Clara Mae (Witmer) Liechty – the youngest of seven children. Two brothers, Jonathan and Silas, live in Jamestown, North Dakota. His brothers Adam, Ezra, and Paul are deceased, as well as his twin sister Ruth who died at 4 ½ years old.

Reuben met Clarice Verke in 1959 on a blind date arranged by his cousin Mary Jo. A year later they were married at the Zion Lutheran Church in Churches Ferry, North Dakota on April 9, 1960.

Reuben and Clarice were blessed with two children, Gwendolyn Ruth Liechty who passed away on March 5, 1991, and Richard (Jaime) Liechty of Shelby Township, Michigan. Reuben also leaves behind four granddaughters, Erika Liechty, Erin Liechty, Eleanor (Malcolm) Hall, and Edith Liechty, and great-granddaughter Gwendolyn Hall, all residing in southeast Michigan.

Growing up, Reuben had many diverse work and educational experiences. In the spring, summer, and fall, he would work on his father’s farm and attend elementary school in Brinsmade. In the wintertime, Reuben’s family headed south where he was temporarily enrolled in schools in Indiana, Florida, Texas, and California. In Florida, he worked on the gladiola farms and bagged groceries (often requested as “that North Dakota boy”). In Texas, he milked goats. In Indiana, he helped his grandfather tap maple trees and make maple syrup. Reuben graduated in 1954 from Lakewood Park Bible School, south of Devils Lake, ND, which is now Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in Ellendale, North Dakota. He also attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND.

In 1955, Reuben started farming on his own. For several years, he also traveled south with combines and did custom combining – following the harvest from Texas back to North Dakota. Reuben also worked as an orderly at the State Hospital in Jamestown from 1960 to 1962, fulfilling selective service duties, all the while maintaining a farming operation in Brinsmade, ND. After a brief return to Brinsmade, Reuben and Clarice moved back to Jamestown, ND in 1965 where he lived until his passing.

Reuben had other professional interests, but he was first and foremost a farmer. After moving back to Jamestown, he started a second farming operation south of Jamestown. Initially, he spent countless hours driving between Jamestown and Brinsmade to keep both operations going. Within a few years, Reuben took flying lessons and became an instrument-rated private pilot. Flying between both farm locations, he would land on the gravel road and taxi into the farmyard. Eventually a grass runway was added near the old homestead. Reuben stopped farming in Brinsmade in 2005. At the age of 72, he expanded his Jamestown operation, building an elevator to receive and store sunflower seeds for Red River Commodities. Reuben fully retired from farming south of Jamestown in 2020 after 65 crop seasons. As someone said after his death, “Reuben was a farmer to the bone.”

In 1965, Reuben attained his real estate brokers license and started selling real estate as well as managing and building apartments. He later opened his real estate office, Reuben Liechty & Company Realtors. Brent Jongeward joined the real estate company in 1976 where he became a valued partner. In 1972, he was President of the ND Association of Realtors, and in 1973, he was ND Realtor of the Year. After 40 years, Reuben retired from the real estate business in 2005 when the business was sold.

Reuben, widely known for his kind heart and generous spirit, was involved in numerous civic organizations. He was a member of the Jamestown Rotary club where he served one term as President. Reuben served as a Trustee at the University of Jamestown for 30 years and was granted Trustee Emeritus status in May of 2017. He was a founding board member of the charitable organization Farm Rescue which provides assistance to farmers and ranchers who have experienced a major illness, injury, or natural disaster. In 2016, he and Clarice received a Lifetime Achievement Legacy of Giving Award from the AFP Northern Plains Chapter. In January of 2020, Reuben and Clarice were awarded Jamestown Citizen of the Year by the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce.

Reuben enjoyed giving back to his community and Christian outreach. For several years, he was the Director of the ND Assembly of God Light for the Lost. He also went on short-term mission trips to Portugal, the Philippines, and Guatemala working on churches and Bible schools. Recent local donations included gifts to the University of Jamestown stadium and the Anne Carlson Center. After attending the dedication of the new athletic fields and stadium at University of Jamestown, Reuben declared, “This has been a fun day!”

While Reuben was very successful in business, his greatest success and testament was where it truly mattered – in life, family, and relationships.

Reuben loved his family, and that love was never in question. He was a devoted, caring husband, and partner to Clarice. They were an amazing team in love, in business, and in philanthropy. He loved his son, Richard, daughter-in-law, Jaime, each of his four granddaughters like none other. He was quick to tell you that his granddaughters were the “smartest and best grandchildren anyone could ever have.” He was happy to meet and hold his great-granddaughter, Gwendolyn (named after his own daughter) born in July 2021. Perhaps his greatest sadness in life was the passing of his own daughter, Gwendolyn, who died in 1991 at the age of 29.

Reuben’s principal hobbies were flying and riding motorcycles. In 1979, he bought his own Cessna Skylane RG which he enjoyed piloting for many decades. He was a member of the Jamestown Skymasters Flying Club. Reuben also owned and rode several motorcycles during his lifetime. He enjoyed riding with the local Harley Owners Group and Christian Motorcyclists Association. The loud crackle and pop of his twin-cylinder Harleys was sure to bring a smile to his face.

Reuben’s life of kindness, enthusiasm, generosity, warmth of heart, and smile has been noted since his passing by those knew him. These words and messages have been a great comfort to the family. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Jamestown Regional Medical Center, Jamestown, ND

https://jrmcnd.com/giving/ or Farm Rescue https://farmrescue.org/ or a charity of your choosing.

Funeral Service - 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 11, 2021 at United Presbyterian Church, Jamestown.  There will be a Livestream of this service on this obituary page.

Visitation - 4:00 p.m.to 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2021 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown and 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the church.

Burial - Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown.

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