Leonard Rigney July 14, 1933 - March 10, 2026

Leonard N. Rigney

July 14, 1933 – March 10, 2026

Leonard Newton “Len” Rigney of Turlock died March 10, 2026. He was 92.

Born July 14, 1933, in Muskogee, Okla., he was the fifth of six children born to Frances Bell Chandler Rigney and Elmer Allen Rigney.

After his parents’ divorce, he moved to Turlock when he was 6. It was there he attended elementary and high school. He loved to tell stories about when he was a boy raising chickens and rabbits. He was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and proud to be one-16th Cherokee.

When he was 17, he returned to Oklahoma City to live with his father. There, he completed high school and did some college study at Southwest Bible College.

In 1954, he married Loveda Ayres, and bought a home in Dublin, Calif., in 1960. They had four children, and divorced in 1969. She preceded him in death.

He started his career delivering milk, and worked for Borden Dairy in Oklahoma, and Freisman Dairy and Berkeley Farms in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was employed for a decade at Cameron Iron Works in Houston, Texas. After returning to Turlock, he worked for 20 years at B&H Manufacturing in Ceres, retiring at age 66.

He enjoyed fishing with his children, a skill he learned from his maternal grandfather. His hobbies also included camping, gardening and tabletop games.

In 1988, he married Helen Otto Wetzlich, and they made their home in Turlock. Though Len hated flying, he and Helen enjoyed annual vacations to Hawaii for more than 20 years.

Len was a member of the Fellowship Bible Church in Turlock for many years, serving as a deacon, and teaching Sunday school. His favorite Bible verse was John 17:3, which defines eternal life not just as living forever, but as knowing God.

He was preceded in death by his siblings: brothers William Ray Rigney of Turlock, Louis Fredrick Rigney and Raymond Thomas Rigney of Oklahoma City; and sisters Christine Elizabeth Kellison of Turlock, and Jean Kathleen Kelly of Chicago.

He is survived by his wife Helen Rigney of Turlock; children Terry Alvarez and her husband Tony of Folsom; Steve Rigney of Oakland; Louis Rigney and his wife Melissa of Danville; and Danita Kelly and her husband John of Livermore; Helen’s sons Michael Wetzlich of Turlock, and Scott Wetzlich and his wife Wendy Weitzel of Davis; 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

As an adult, Len kept in touch with his cousin Wanda Bowerman of Madera. They took turns visiting each other every month. When neither could travel, they chatted monthly by phone. She also survives him.

Len’s celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. on April 4 at Allen Mortuary, 247 N. Broadway in Turlock. A reception will follow at Fellowship Bible Church, 501 E. Canal Drive in Turlock.

Memorial contributions may be made in Len Rigney’s name to Bristol Hospice, the Modesto organization that cared for him at the end of his life. Donations may be made to the foundation’s website.