The funeral service for Lester L. Finkbeiner, 86, of Roscoe, will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Aberdeen First Assembly, with Pastor Ben Snyder officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m., at Morningside Cemetery, Roscoe, with military honors.
Lester died Thursday, May 16, at Prairie Lakes Hospital, Watertown.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m., Wednesday, with family present from 5-7 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street, Aberdeen.
Lester L. Finkbeiner was born December 13, 1937, to Adolph and Elsie (Dabbert) Finkbeiner on the family farm north of Roscoe. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school. In 1953, his family moved to Pendleton, Ore. After a year in Oregon, the family moved back to the rural Roscoe area to farm. After returning to South Dakota, Lester attended school in Ipswich, graduating from Ipswich High School.
On July 10, 1960, Lester was united in marriage to Clara Entzel in Ipswich. They lived in Kansas while Lester served in the U.S. Army. They moved to Mobridge, and Lester was a rural route Postal carrier in the Selby area. Lester and Clara moved back to work the farm alongside Lester's parents. Lester loved wood-working and building with his hands, so when given the opportunity to help his father build a new house, he was in his element. Lester and Clara eventually moved into that house after his parents passed away. Lester lived on the farm for 70 years.
He raised AKC dogs as one of his businesses and sold dogs all over the country. The family was featured in a Farm Forum publication for their dogs. He worked at Beadles Floral, was a butcher at Kessler's grocery store for six years, and then worked at United Defense for nine years. Clara passed away on July 15, 1993.
Lester married Beverly Price on June 27, 1997, at the First Assembly of God church in Aberdeen.
Lester was a member of First Baptist Church in Ipswich where he served as a deacon. He later became a voting member of Aberdeen First Assembly. Lester collected stamps, coins, antiques and was an avid rock hunter. He enjoyed going to garage sales. Lester took great pride in taking care of his yard and garden. He was featured in the Aberdeen American News for container gardening and presented at the Ipswich Flower and Garden Club. When he was younger, Lester enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a devoted Christian and had an evangelist's heart, sharing his faith with many. Lester loved his family and had a love for people, bringing many to Christ.
Grateful for having shared Lester's life are his wife of 26 years Beverly Finkbeiner; his children, Jay Dee (Lesa Leamons) Finkbeiner, Kay Lynn (Kirk) Hauck, and Misty Rae Finkbeiner; his grandchildren, Lindsay L. (Jeff) Reidburn, Brooke M. (Clay) Kistler, Merinda (Adnan) Buljubasic, Laura LaRoche, Nathan (Samantha) Leamons, and Kelby J. Hauck; stepchildren, Keith Price and Michael (Sara) Price; his sister, Goldie Fulton; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Lester in death are his parents, Adolph and Elsie; his wife of 33 years, Clara Finkbeiner; and his brother, Robert Finkbeiner.
Arrangements by Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, Aberdeen. http://www.spitzerfuneral home.com
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