Richard Leroy Lester passed away quietly after a lengthy illness at his son John’s home in Bozeman on June 11, 2013. Richard was born to Richard and Florence Lester (Campbell) in Springbrook, Wisconsin on July 18, 1936.
He married Ardith Marie Zillmer on May 26, 1956 at the Lutheran Church in Barronett, WI. They raised five children: Stephanie, Diana, Donald, Ronald and John on a farm in Spooner, WI. The single most important thing in his life was his family. He enjoyed taking children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and anyone else he met hunting, fishing and just going for a drive in the mountains. As a young man, 13, he came to Montana with a logging crew and fell in love with the Meagher County area. After years of logging, farming, and raising kids in Wisconsin, he realized his dream of coming home to Montana. He moved lock, stock and barrel to White Sulphur Springs, Montana in 1983. He was a logger, started a sawmill and ran Lester Lumber and Log Homes. He loved his trout pond and feeding his fish in the evening with Ardy and the grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, his sister, Mae Hoyt and brother, Randy Lester. He is survived by his lifelong love, Ardy Lester of 57 years; sons, Donny (Roxy), Ronny (Sandy), John (Karen); daughters, Stephanie Rooney (Dan), Diana Voight (Bob); 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Richard will take place from 4-7 on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in White Sulphur Springs with a funeral service at the funeral home on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be held at the Mayn Cemetery with a visitation and social hour at the Meagher County Senior Citizen’s Center. Richard loved crowds so please come and celebrate his life. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at a later date in Wisconsin. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or share a memory of Richard.
Service Schedule
Visitation
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday June 16, 2013
Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Monday June 17, 2013
Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Reception
Following the service
Monday June 17, 2013
Meagher County Senior Citizen's Center
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Service Schedule
Visitation
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday June 16, 2013
Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Monday June 17, 2013
Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
Reception
Following the service
Monday June 17, 2013
Meagher County Senior Citizen's Center
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
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Ken & Brenda Sage says
Dick will be missed by all! He was such a nice guy! God Bless his family who always welcomed us into their homes!
Kelly Coddington says
My Mother Evelyn ( Hubbell) Cariolano bought me my first Horse from Dick.. He was such a great guy and Im sure will be missed by all that he has touched… Rest in Peace…
Sarah Tripp says
A previous comment says “God Bless his family who always welcomed us into their homes!” is so true. Dick, in reality was my (Step) Grandpa and I hadn’t seen him a quite a few years, since he and Grandma Ardy were back in Wisconsin for my wedding in 2006. When reading the thoughts on this memory page I was overcome with thoughts and memories of a man that loved and treated all of us grandkids the same. I noted that he was my Step Grandfather only to reference that he never made my Brother or I feel any different than all the rest of the kids. I have memories of sliding down snowy hills and fire lanes near Potato Lake in WI where they lived when I was a child. Memories of riding horse in White Sulpher, drinking hot cocoa, warming up to the wood stove, and many homeade meals with several helpings of homemade mashed potatoes that Grandpa Dick always encouraged my brothers to eat more of to catch up their sister. 🙂 These are memories that will last a lifetime & yes he will be missed by so many.