The Rev. Noel D. Rich, age 83, of Alexandria, died suddenly on Monday, July 27, 2026, at home with family.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria; visitation is one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Adam Duvall will be officiating with The Rev. Tom Sinning assisting. Special music will be sung by his nephew Joseph Emigh of Utica, Pennsylvania. Full military honors will be accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard and the Veteran’s Memorial Honor Guard. Interment will take place at Kinkead Cemetery, Alexandria.

The Rev. Noel David Rich was born on December 23, 1942, to Ralph and Lucille (Pearson) Rich in Seattle, Washington. He attended a rural school through the eighth grade in Alaska and graduated from Annandale High School in Virginia in 1961. Noel continued his education at the University of Alaska for several years before leaving school and working various jobs.

Before enrolling at Penn State University, he moved to Pennsylvania from Virginia. The Rev. Noel was united in marriage to Virginia “Ginger” Smith on March 19, 1966, in Morrisdale, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn State in September of that year and taught mathematics in Virginia and after Vietnam in Alaska.

Noel served in the United States Army, spending three and a half years in Alaska, one year in Vietnam, and an additional six months at various Army bases. Following his honorable discharge, he briefly returned to the University of Alaska to continue his education.

Noel later attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, where he earned his Master’s of Divinity. His first call following seminary was a six-month assignment teaching in Viña del Mar, Chile. He then returned to Alaska, where he a year participating in Christian ministry at Denali National Park. During this time, The Rev. Noel also served as a Boy Scout leader and lead his scouts on a 50-mile wilderness hike.

The Rev. Noel and Ginger moved their family to Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio, and later to Madison, Indiana, where they lived for nine years. They eventually settled in Alexandria, Minnesota, where The Rev. Noel led Emmanuel Episcopal Church for 11 years before retiring in 2007.

Retirement did not bring an end to The Rev. Noel’s ministry. For 20 years, he performed mission and volunteer work with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, commonly known as SAMS, and also served on its board. He led Bible studies in Alexandria for 16 years, continuing until his declining health no longer allowed him to do so. The Rev. Noel also worked part time ministering to congregations in Wadena and Fergus Falls and was on the board of Selective TV in Alexandria for many years.

Among The Rev. Noel’s many notable travel experiences were 12 journeys along the Alaska Highway before it was fully paved and a trip to Africa with Prayer Watch International. Through his work with SAMS, he traveled to Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, Vietnam, and Singapore. Over the course of his life, The Rev. Noel visited all 50 states and every province of Canada.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother John Rich.

The Rev. Noel is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ginger, daughter Mary Lu Rich of Alexandria, grandson, Michael (Hope) Harris, great-granddaughter Eleanor Harris, sister-in-law Harriet Rich, and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Al Nelson, John Wussow, Jim Bridenstine, Jeff Hyatt, Tom Bock, and Dr. Jerry McCreery.