1921
Lester
2011
Lester Bethel
August 6, 1921 — August 6, 2011
Lester Osborne Bethel, 90, Prairie Village, KS passed away Saturday, Aug 6, 2011 at Kansas City Hospice House. Present with Lester were his daughter, Becky and her husband, Bill; granddaughter, Leslie and her husband, Tim; great granddaughter, Madeline; and his sister, Lucille. Lester was tenderly and perfectly cared for by the nurses and caregivers of Kansas City Hospice House.
The visitation will be held from 3-4 PM with a memorial service beginning at 4 PM, Sunday, August 14th at Crossroads Church, 10551 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Disabled American Veterans Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
Lester was born in Warrensburg, MO on Feb. 4, 1921, son of Luvina (Osborne) and John Franklin (“Frank”) Bethel. He moved to Kansas City at age 11 and was a lifelong area resident. He helped his family survive the Depression as a bicycle delivery driver for a drugstore. His refurbished bicycle was a special gift to his sister Lucille, who had been dearly wishing for a bicycle.
Having graduated from Westport High School in 1939, Lester was a U.S. Army veteran, commissioned a 2nd Lt. in Sept. 1942. He served throughout the war in the Pacific theatre. He participated in the Oct., 1944 invasion of Leyte, Philippines, and suffered the medical consequences of fighting for 72 days from an often flooded foxhole for the rest of his life.
Lester married Nancy Day on April 10, 1948, and the couple was blessed with two daughters, Susan and Becky and adopted a 3rd daughter, Nanette, of Nancy’s previous marriage. Lester’s career as an outstanding salesperson was spent working for Kansas City Poster, where he retired as Secretary Treasurer. His engaging smile and great sense of humor served him well in his business and at family gatherings. He had a joke or story for all occasions. He enjoyed golf and was a member of Homestead Country Club for many years. Lester and Nancy were founding members of Crossroads Church.
After Nancy’s untimely death, Lester married high school friend, Marguerite (“Maggie”) Clark. They enjoyed extensive travels together, including their first trip, a voyage on the Queen Mary to visit London and Paris. After Maggie suffered a stroke, Lester lovingly cared for her for eight years under her death in 2007.
In recent years, Lester’s sister, Lucille, invited him to share her home. The two had been close growing up (remember the bicycle) and been golfing buddies for years. Lester enjoyed trips to the adjoining farms of his two daughters in Auxvasse, MO, where the rural lifestyle, complete with several horses and dogs, reminded him of the many happy times he spent as a boy on the grandparent’s farm outside Warrensburg. Lester celebrated his 90th birthday with a big party at the Warrensburg Players Club this past June.
In addition to wives Nancy and Maggie, Lester was preceded in death by brothers, Charles and Robert, and sisters, Frances Neath and Virginia Muir. He is survived by his daughters, Susan Jester and Becky Bartley both of Auxvasse, MO; brother, John Bethel of Merriam, KS; sister, Lucille Van Zant of Prairie Village, KS; granddaughters, Leslie Steckel (Tim) of Columbia, MO; and Lillian Howard (Mike) of Warrensburg, MO; grandsons, George (“Trey”) Baumgartner of Auxvasse, MO and Don Jaster of St. Louis, MO; three great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66210. 913-451-1860
The visitation will be held from 3-4 PM with a memorial service beginning at 4 PM, Sunday, August 14th at Crossroads Church, 10551 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Disabled American Veterans Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
Lester was born in Warrensburg, MO on Feb. 4, 1921, son of Luvina (Osborne) and John Franklin (“Frank”) Bethel. He moved to Kansas City at age 11 and was a lifelong area resident. He helped his family survive the Depression as a bicycle delivery driver for a drugstore. His refurbished bicycle was a special gift to his sister Lucille, who had been dearly wishing for a bicycle.
Having graduated from Westport High School in 1939, Lester was a U.S. Army veteran, commissioned a 2nd Lt. in Sept. 1942. He served throughout the war in the Pacific theatre. He participated in the Oct., 1944 invasion of Leyte, Philippines, and suffered the medical consequences of fighting for 72 days from an often flooded foxhole for the rest of his life.
Lester married Nancy Day on April 10, 1948, and the couple was blessed with two daughters, Susan and Becky and adopted a 3rd daughter, Nanette, of Nancy’s previous marriage. Lester’s career as an outstanding salesperson was spent working for Kansas City Poster, where he retired as Secretary Treasurer. His engaging smile and great sense of humor served him well in his business and at family gatherings. He had a joke or story for all occasions. He enjoyed golf and was a member of Homestead Country Club for many years. Lester and Nancy were founding members of Crossroads Church.
After Nancy’s untimely death, Lester married high school friend, Marguerite (“Maggie”) Clark. They enjoyed extensive travels together, including their first trip, a voyage on the Queen Mary to visit London and Paris. After Maggie suffered a stroke, Lester lovingly cared for her for eight years under her death in 2007.
In recent years, Lester’s sister, Lucille, invited him to share her home. The two had been close growing up (remember the bicycle) and been golfing buddies for years. Lester enjoyed trips to the adjoining farms of his two daughters in Auxvasse, MO, where the rural lifestyle, complete with several horses and dogs, reminded him of the many happy times he spent as a boy on the grandparent’s farm outside Warrensburg. Lester celebrated his 90th birthday with a big party at the Warrensburg Players Club this past June.
In addition to wives Nancy and Maggie, Lester was preceded in death by brothers, Charles and Robert, and sisters, Frances Neath and Virginia Muir. He is survived by his daughters, Susan Jester and Becky Bartley both of Auxvasse, MO; brother, John Bethel of Merriam, KS; sister, Lucille Van Zant of Prairie Village, KS; granddaughters, Leslie Steckel (Tim) of Columbia, MO; and Lillian Howard (Mike) of Warrensburg, MO; grandsons, George (“Trey”) Baumgartner of Auxvasse, MO and Don Jaster of St. Louis, MO; three great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66210. 913-451-1860
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