Derwin Ernest LESTER

LESTER, JONES, JACOBSEN, SCHULTZ, RONNE, HUFFMAN, SEIFERMANN, HAMMONDS, UNVERZAGT, SHONES, PHOAT, SUMMERS, OLESON, FODNESS, TERHARK, MCKNIGHT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/4/2011 at 10:25:21

March 18, 1923 -- September 28, 2011

Funeral services for Derwin Lester will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 2011, at the United Church of Grand Meadow, with the Rev. Karen Ashton officiating. Burial will take place in the Grand Meadow Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at the Hindt Funeral Home in Grand Meadow, and will continue at the church on Monday for one hour prior to the service. Mr. Lester, 88, of Grand Meadow, died Wednesday evening at the Mayo Health Systems in Austin.

Derwin Ernest Lester was born March 18, 1923, in Goldfield, Iowa, to Harry and Beatrice (Jones) Lester. He graduated from Goldfield High School in 1942 and helped his father on the farm. He enlisted in the Army during World War II and was drafted into service for the Korean War serving from September 1950 to September 1951. He was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge as well as the Purple Heart. Derwin married Patricia Jacobsen Feb. 14, 1954, and they farmed near Goldfield and Clarion, Iowa. In 1959, they moved to a farm near Grand Meadow where they farmed until 1985 when they retired and moved to town. Derwin enjoyed making wooden trains and giving them away. He also had a small garden where he always raised radishes. He belonged to the American Legion, Korean War Veterans in Rochester and the United Church of Grand Meadow.

Derwin is survived by his wife, Patricia of Grand Meadow; daughters, Lola (Bryan) Schultz of Blue Earth, Joanne Ronne of Grand Meadow and Laura Huffman of Lake City; two sons, Daniel (Robin) Lester and Kelvin (Deborah) Lester, both of Grand Meadow; grandchildren, Valerie (Shane) Seifermann, Darin, Jennifer and Ashley Ronne, Natasha Lester, Dusty (John) Hammonds, Susan Lester and (fiance, Brady Unverzagt), April and Amber Shones and Kiara Lester; stepgrandchildren, April (Phay) Phoat, Misty (Jarvis) Summers, Aaron Oleson and (fiance, Dianna Fodness); one great-grandson; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, Norman (Elaine) Lester and Leo (Bev) Lester both of Goldfield, Iowa; two sisters, Arlene (Curtis) Terhark of St. Ansgar, Iowa and Patricia McKnight of Brandon, S.D.; and sister-in-law, Marvel Lester of Milaca. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Floyd, Arnold and Duane and his sisters, Verla, Marilyn and Yvonne.

September 30, 2011
Rochester Post Bulletin -- Rochester, Minnesota