Lester Gardner

Lester Dale Gardner (73) was born in Bottineau, North Dakota to Arthur G. Gardner and Leotta B. (Johnson, Gardner) Bippes on April 17, 1944. Following a yearlong battle with mesothelioma, he finished his race in a room filled with the presence of God and the love of his family on March 6, 2018. He is preceded in death by his Parents, his grandparents Clara and Victor Johnson, and his brother Robert (Lyle) Gardner. He is survived by his wife Marilyn; sons Mike (Patty), Brad (Gretta), and Eric Gardner; grandchildren Chase (Sehara), Colton, Madison, Brandon, Jared, Enoch, Charity, and Lydia Gardner; great-grandchildren Paiten, Waylon, and Easton Gardner; Brothers Kenneth (Dorothy), Dennis (Carol Ann), Clayton (Carolyn); Sisters: Laura (Jim) Blankenship, and Betty (Rod) Borley and sister-in-law Linda (Les) Olson, and brother-in-law Jack (Judy) Kidd and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lester treasured his childhood memories of the hard life on the small farm without running water or electricity in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota. He was the baby boy with 4 older brothers, and two spoiled younger sisters. He shared many farm life memoires such as harsh winters, milking cows, sleeping with piglets, riding horses, warming his bare feet in fresh cowpies and hunting ducks and trapping muskrats with his Dad while his older brothers were in school.

In 1956 Lester moved to Post Falls were he attended Post Falls High School. He graduated with the class of 1962. Lester loved all sports, especially basketball which he played in high school and at North Idaho Junior College (1963-1965). He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Kidd in 1965. Together they raised three boys, Mike, Brad and Eric.

Lester loved hunting, fishing, camping and huckleberry picking. At Bunker Hill, (Smelterville, Idaho) he worked hard to finish shifts early to fly fish the Coeur d’Alene river. But Lester found his life of family, working, and lots of sports, hunting and fishing to be unfulfilling. At age 30 through the Gospel preaching of Billy Graham on TV, being overwhelmed by God’s love for him through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, he repented of his selfish life, surrendered to Jesus Christ and was saved by faith. Following this, God led him into an electrical apprenticeship at Bunker Hill and then to working as an electrician at Kaiser Aluminum where he was hired in 1976 and worked until he retired in 2016.

Lester (Les) loved his job as an electrician at Kaiser. He loved using his God given skills to serve his employer and worked there until he was 72. He was known as a hard worker, kind compassionate coworker and witness and light for Jesus. He had many family members and friends there.

In Pinehurst he attended the Community Baptist church with those who along with his grandmother, prayed for his conversion. He was baptized at Emmanuel Baptist church in Cda, ID where he began serving the Lord by singing in the Choir, teaching a boy’s Sunday school class, and serving in the nursing home ministry. Later he attended Post Falls Baptist Church where he served many years as treasurer, sang in the choir, preached in the nursing homes of La Cross and Ivy Court for many years until his health failed.

Lester was well loved by his family, friends and coworkers. He is remembered for his faithfulness, gentle spirit, selfless love and servant’s heart. He coached his sons in baseball, attended his grandchildren’s sporting events, and faithfully brought his grandchildren to church.

He helped many with his electrical talent. He served his Lord faithfully and was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother in Christ, and employee.

Lester, Dad, Grandpa, Brother Lester, Les, you fought a good fight! You ran a good race! You finished your course! We all thank you and are so proud of you.