HILLIARD — Our loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Melvin LaMar Lester, 89, returned to his Heavenly Father on Dec. 9, at his home in Hilliard, surrounded by his family.
LaMar began his mortal journey Feb. 16, in Hilliard, born to Merle and Francis (Bell) Lester. His early years were spent on the Lester Ranch that his Grandfather, Henry Lester, homesteaded. He later purchased part of the ranch and remained there until the time of his death.
He attended a one-room schoolhouse in Hilliard and later spent a year and a half attending Evanston High School. With the world engaged in conflict, he enlisted in the Coast Guard at the young age of 17. He served throughout the South Pacific and was honorably discharged in 1946. He married his sweetheart, Linnea Paulson on May 24, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings in the Hilliard Ward. His favorite callings, however, were that ofhusband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Together, LaMar and Linnea raised their 10 children on the family ranch. LaMar helped augment the family ranch income by working several outside jobs including truck driver for Milne and Frontier Trucking Companies, worked on the Altamont Tunnel and for Bear River Lumber. He retired from the Wyoming State Hospital, where he worked as a security guard.
LaMar was always proud to tell every one about his 51 grandchildren and 100 great-grandchildren with three more on the way. He had a special relationship with each and every one of them.
LaMar is survived by daughters: Marcia (Kevin) DeWitt, Leeds, Utah; Lori (Steve) Owens, Auburn; Jan (John) Cassinat, Elk Grove, Calif.; Sherrie (Eric) South and Marianne Winfield, both of Evanston; sons: Craig (Christie) Lester and Merle (Vickie) Lester, both of Evanston; and Paul (Jennifer) Lester of Hurricane, Utah.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Linnea; his parents, brothers: Allen and Merle Lester; sisters: Hilma Martin, LaVerne Martin, and Jean Layton; son and daughter-in-law. Dean and Sandy Lester and their infant son Darren; his son, Bruce; and son-in-law, John Winfield; and four great-granddaughters.
Funeral Services will be held on today Dec. 15, at noon at the Hilliard LDS Church, 15 miles south of Evanston on Hwy. 150. Friends and family may call at the LDS Sage Street Chapel, 200 Sage Street, Evanston on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the Hilliard LDS Church from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. today. Interment with military honors will be in the Evanston City Cemetery.
