Lester E. Smith, 91, passed away July 26, 2012, in Richland, Wash.
Lester was born Oct. 12, 1920, in Bridgeport, Neb., and was raised there. During the summers, Lester spent time at the family ranch in Hot Springs, S.D., in the Black Hills. He also spent time fishing on the Platte River.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed, Lester immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing action on the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima with the 4th Division.
After graduating college with his teaching degree, Lester set up the first educational environmental laboratory in the state of Wyoming. He also taught in Lander, Wyo., where he retired.
Lester was a member of the Marine Corps League, other veterans organizations and involved in veteran activities. He always looked forward to his annual reunion with his fellow veterans from the 4th Division, 27th Regimental Weapons. During World War II he had received the Presidential Unit Citation.
Lester was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, and daughter Helen.
He is survived by his sons, Richard and Karen Smith, Russ Smith and Dan Smith; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Graveside military services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Contributions in Lester's name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lester Smith, please visit our flower store.
Lester was born Oct. 12, 1920, in Bridgeport, Neb., and was raised there. During the summers, Lester spent time at the family ranch in Hot Springs, S.D., in the Black Hills. He also spent time fishing on the Platte River.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed, Lester immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing action on the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima with the 4th Division.
After graduating college with his teaching degree, Lester set up the first educational environmental laboratory in the state of Wyoming. He also taught in Lander, Wyo., where he retired.
Lester was a member of the Marine Corps League, other veterans organizations and involved in veteran activities. He always looked forward to his annual reunion with his fellow veterans from the 4th Division, 27th Regimental Weapons. During World War II he had received the Presidential Unit Citation.
Lester was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, and daughter Helen.
He is survived by his sons, Richard and Karen Smith, Russ Smith and Dan Smith; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Graveside military services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Contributions in Lester's name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.