Riley William Leidig was born in Norton, Kansas on December 9, 1943 to Clifford W. and Hazel I. (AraSmith) Leidig. Riley was over a year old before his Dad first saw him, due to World War II. Riley and his mother lived with Clifford’s parents while his Dad was overseas. Grandma Leidig had made pies & set them on the table to cool when Riley decided to climb up on the table. He knocked off a pie & proceeded to fall on top of it, hitting the bridge of his nose. Clifford always laughed about this & said “The first time I ever saw Riley he had two black eyes!”
Riley started grade school at the Lenora Grade School. The family moved several years later to Norton, Kansas. He graduated from Norton Community High School in 1962. Riley immediately started working for the Kansas Department of Transportation after graduation. After being transferred to Phillipsburg, Riley became the district foreman for the department. Several years later, Riley began farming as a dairyman and stockman.
On February 1, 1969 he married Bonnie Brooks at the Norton Christian Church. To this union three children were born: Darryl, Angela, & Donald. Riley’s greatest joys in life were serving the Lord, raising his children & 10 grandchildren, and watching the crops grow.
Riley served on various boards throughout his life including: Phillipsburg Board of Education, Rangeland Cooperatives, Englewood Church, & Phillipsburg Wesleyan Church. As an active member of the Gideon’s organization, he thoroughly enjoyed Bible distribution at the local colleges.
Survivors include his wife Bonnie of 52 years. His sons, Darryl & wife Jayne; Donald & wife LeAnn; and a daughter, Angela & husband Randy Babcock; ten grandkids; Elizabeth, Ethan, Callie, Caleb, Colten, & Cara Leidig; Alex, Ashley, Abby & Ryan Babcock, all of Phillipsburg, Kansas. Two sisters, Nancy Sheldon & husband Larry Lay, LuCinda Smith & husband Randall of the Wichita area; and two brothers, Darryl E. Leidig & wife Pam of Hesston, Kansas and Douglas Leidig of Amarillo, Texas, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A wise man of few words, Riley lived his faith through his actions. He always had a gentle smile on his face. In more recent years, Riley could be found proudly supporting each of his grandkids at whatever activity they were involved in. He was truly their number one fan.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at the Wesleyan Church in Phillipsburg with Pastors Randy Garner and Darrell Schmid officiating. The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Iowa Union Cemetery, Phillips County.
Riley will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wesleyan Church or Gideons International.