Bruce Jay Lester

Bruce was baptized on 29 September 1979, and confirmed by myself. He went on to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and held the office of Deacon, Teacher and Priest. Bruce always took pride in doing our Heavenly Father’s work.

Bruce loved sports. He was the pitcher for his little league baseball team, which he was very proud of. He especially liked wrestling. When he first started wrestling he was quite small, with a slender build. At different times we would hear his opponent say, “This one is going to be easy.” They soon learned that he was a very wiry customer and they usually wound up on their back and being pinned. During his high school year he started lifting weights, bales, etc. and he was in very good condition. He earned several awards in wrestling and was very much loved and respected by his coaches and team mates. After his death his team mates and coaches gave us $500.00 to help pay for his grave marker. There was also a wrestling scholarship set up in his honor. It is still in effect some 18 years later. Bruce also love football very much and was on the varsity team at Evanston High School. He also loved school and seminary. He was the President of the Seminary class. He loved his association with class mates and teachers. It was said that he was always the Teacher’s pet, this didn’t seem to bother him in the least. He was also very close to his Mother. She traveled to nearly all of his matches and games. I attended when I could but my work schedule usually prohibited it.

When Bruce was about 14 or 15 years old his Mom told him he had to spend more time helping me. He liked going with me and soon learned about ditching, irrigating, fencing, repairing machinery etc. He also learned the art of stacking hay bales after Merle left to go on his mission. He became my right hand man. He looked for things that needed to be done and then took great pride in doing it. The day he got in his car accident he mowed about 2/3 of the big patch in Grandma’s field. Him and Waylon left to go over to Guilds to lift weights and workout. It was on their way that they were involved in a head on collision. Bruce was seriously hurt. I was notified at Wyoming State Hospital about 10:00 P.M. I met my honey at the hospital just moments before the ambulance brought Bruce in. He was treated there and then life flighted to LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. He passed away early on the morning of July 29, 1988. This was our second son to loose in tragic accidents. We always felt that our Heavenly Father had a special mission that only he could do.

Written by LaMar Lester also known as “Father Bear”

*Bruce was always talking and preparing to go on a mission.