Leland Dean was born November 14, 1943, to John and Anna (Huesman) Riebkes in the Shiloh Township. He graduated from Wellsburg High School and went on to Iowa Valley Community College District in the Adult and Continuing Education Division. Leland enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962 during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1966 and returned to rural Wellsburg, where he would continue to make his forever home.

Leland was united in marriage to Judy Aalfs on September 6, 1968, at the First Christian Reformed Church. Leland worked as a Computer Numerical Machine Operator at Fishers/Emerson in Marshalltown for 39 years before retiring in December of 2005. He was a devoted father, husband, family man, and church member. He served as a church elder for several years at both First and Second Christian Reformed Churches.

Leland will be missed by his wife of 57 years, Judy, his two daughters; Lisa (Dan) Van Zoest of Wellsburg, and Brenda (Michael Dinwiddie) Riebkes of Jacksboro, TX, grandchildren; Rebekah Van Zoest of Grand Rapids, MI, Will Van Zoest of Washington DC, and Daniel Van Zoest of Wellsburg, siblings; Melvin Riebkes, Sylvia Eiklenborg, and Lary (Rozella) Riebkes, and his nieces and nephews; Craig and Kim Riebkes, Kirk and Dee Bond, Karen and Steve Dubiel, Rod and Terri Riebkes, Jon Riebkes, Jack and Julie Schaffer, and Mike and Sue Carnahan. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Betty Riebkes, sister-in-law, Agnes Riebkes, and brother-in-law, Norman Eiklenborg.