DeLores Leno

Our beloved mother, DeLores Leno, 95, peacefully passed away on November 26, 2025, the night before Thanksgiving.

She was born Dolores Biech in Goodrich, ND, April 4, 1930. She attended grade school in Goodrich and her family later moved to Tuttle where she finished high school. It was in Tuttle where she first encountered her future husband, Daniel Leno, who had just returned home from World War II. She enjoyed telling her family that from the moment she first saw this recently returned veteran she knew she was going to marry him. It didn't come easy however. She was 17 and so it was necessary for Daniel, who was 22, to ask her father for permission to marry his daughter. At first it was denied but it didn't take long for DeLores' stubborn streak to show itself and her father relented under his daughter's pressure and the couple were married November 23, 1947. They spent many good years together, 53 in fact, until Daniel's death in 2001.

One highlight of her years in Tuttle was when she was elected Carnival Queen. She was fairly elected but due to political chicanery she relinquished the title rather than cause a school disruption. She was always proud of the knowledge that she had won fairly and to her family remained the rightful Carnival Queen.

She loved to cook and the cupboards and kitchen counters were always busy and full as she prepared goodies such as Rhubarb Cakes, Cookies of every description and Marshmallow Fudge that melted in lucky mouths. Her prune kuchen were legendary! Her pickles were her pride and joy, however, after Daniel started working for the Bismarck Police Department, she would be called upon to bring the pickles to the Police parties. She was dubbed "the pickle-packing momma."

The family, even though money was always tight, took vacations every year and traveled throughout the United States with stops at dozens of National Parks and trips to many an Old West frontier town where her three sons acquired a love of history. These trips provided their sons with a deeper love of history than any number of books could possibly have given and that love of history has stayed with them many years later. Along with her appreciation for history, DeLores also cherished her hobby of collecting dolls of every size, each one bring her joy.  

No better Mother could there have been and her 95 years were filled with classy, selfless acts that only proved what a caring person she was. She will be missed.

She is survived by her three sons, Jerome (Debbie) Scottsdale, AZ, and Kirby and Brian, both living in Bismarck; one granddaughter, Kari Leno, Scottsdale AZ; and two great grandchildren, Daria Leno and Layla Gruse; one sister, Fern Batterberry, of Arizona; and dozens of nephews, nieces and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and August Biech; her husband, Daniel G. Leno; grandson, Jerome Danny Leno; one brother, Reuben Biech; and one sister, Evangeline Sauter.

A special thank you to the nurses of hospice who made this much easier for the family and DeLores. Jessica, Katie and Meghan. Also, thanks to Fern Batterberry who helped jog this writer's mind with information to be included in this celebration of his mother's life.