Richard was born January 23, 1937 to the late Henry Peter Holand and Allie (Matthiasson) Holand in Montrose Township, Cavalier County, North Dakota. He attended school in Edinburg, graduating the class of 1954. Richard received his Bachelors Degree from Mayville State College and his Masters from the University of North Dakota. He began teaching in a one room school house in rural Edinburg. He went on to teach in Pisek, Edinburg, Mountain, and Middle River, MN. Richard started at Park River Public Schools in 1971, where he was the principal for 30 years.
Richard was united in marriage to Lorna Franks on July 5, 1958 in Hamilton, ND. Richard and Lorna raised six children. Richard loved to hunt, garden, farm and carpentry. He retired from teaching in 2001. He continued farming and working construction with his family.
He was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Park River, served on the North Dakota Soil Conservation Board, was a Hunter Safety instructor, and a member of the Park River Ambulance service.
Richard is survived by his children: Lynda (David) DeBuhr, West Fargo, ND; Peter (Donna) Holand, Grafton, ND; Suzanne (Brian) Crane, Maple Grove, MN; John (Jody) Holand, Corcoran, MN; Dale (Jenny) Holand, Park River, ND; and Mary (Dustin) Martin, Park River, ND; 13 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and siblings: Janice (Billy) Lofthus, Apache Junction, AZ and Kenneth (Evelyn) Holand, Minot, ND; several nieces and nephews also survive. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and sister Stephanie Geston.