Marvel Lester

Funeral service for Marvel Lester, age 85, will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 10 AM at First Baptist Church in Milaca with Rev. Adrian Bolt and Rev. Tom Sahlstrom officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 PM Monday at Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Music will be provided by Mary Kyle, Mary Wallin, Ann Johnson and Barb Millam. Casketbearers will include Gary Lester, Michael Johnson, Edward Pearson, Roger Wade, Brad Harrington, Travis Johnson, Charlie Wade and Kyle Wade. Honorary casketbearers will include Jon Lester, Joe Lester, Bodie Kjolseth, Sam Korslund and Emery Goudy. Marvel Joyce Arlene Lester was born August 7, 1927 to Harlan and Gladys (Amosson) Jotten, at home on the family farm near Clarion, IA in Wright County. She attended country school and then public school in Renwick, IA. She was engaged to Floyd E. Lester and they were married on August 10, 1946 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Newport News, VA, where Floyd was stationed while serving in the US Army. Three months later, Floyd was called to serve in Japan. Marvel then returned to Des Moines, IA, where she worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell until Floyd’s return in August 1947. Early in March 1948, they rented a farm in Wright County, IA and farmed for nine years. During this time all four of their children were born. In January 1957, they purchased their own farm in Milo Township, south of Foreston, MN. In the spring of 1976, they sold the farm and bought a house in Milaca, where they lived until June 1999. When they sold their house in Milaca, they moved into the Milaca Park Apartments. On February 12, 2005, Floyd passed away and Marvel continued to live at the Milaca Park Apartments. In January 2012, she moved to the Country Meadows Assisted Living in Milaca. Marvel started working at Presley Drugstore in Milaca in 1962 and continued working there until 1989. She was hired at Frank’s Pharmacy in 1989 and worked there until her retirement in 2002 at the age of 75 years old. Marvel was a member of the First Baptist Church in Milaca, where she enjoyed Bible Study and the Christian Women’s Club. She was a member of the Prime Timer’s Club through the First National Bank of Milaca and enjoyed the many activities. In her younger years, she loved to go camping and fishing with her husband, children and grandchildren. While living at the Milaca Park Apartments, she was very active volunteering to help with the Senior Dining Center, the Jam Sessions held in the center, bingo and table games. She played and sang in “The Kitchen Band” a group of ladies entertaining the elderly at the Senior Dining Center, the Senior Center and the Milaca Elim Home. She worked as a volunteer at the Country Store at the Milaca Elim Care and Rehab Center. She spent many hours embroidering dish towels for family and friends. Marvel loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Gerald “Gary” Lee (Hayly) Lester of Prineville, OR, Glenda Lou (Michael) Johnson of Milaca, Bonnie Jo (Edward) Pearson of Walla Walla, WA and Rebecca “Becky” (Roger) Wade of Circle Pines, MN; nine grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Wilhelm of Belmond, IA; also by many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd; her parents and two granddaughters.