Lester E. Rose, 95, died Nov. 21, 2009, at Hester Care, Wesley Towers, Hutchinson. Lester was born Aug. 27, 1914, on a farm near Bluff City, Kansas, the eighth of 11 children. His family moved to the Waldren, Ks, area, where he went to grade school. He went to his freshmen year at Anthony High School
The family moved to a ranch northwest of Kiowa in Barber County in 1929, where he finished his high school on the National Honor Roll. This allowed him a scholarship to Friends University, where he played football, basketball and track
He loved farming and cattle, so he went back to working on farms in the Gerlane area. It was here that he met his future wife, Troye Hensley. Lester and Troye were married September 2, 1937, at the Barber County Fair, in Hardtner, Ks.
In 1949, an opportunity opened up for him to get into a farming and cattle business operation in the Whitewater area. It worked out to become a very successful operation until his retirement in 1981
His retirement years were spent living on the Tall Grass Golf Course in Wichita and spending the winters in South Texas, playing lots of golf (with three holes-in-one) and cards, his favorite being bridge.
Lester and Troye bought a home at Wesley Towers Retirement Center in July of 1991. Lester moved into the Towers after Troye's passing March 7, 2001.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Hutchinson Noon Optimist Club, the National Livestock Association and the Kansas Livestock Association.
Survivors include: daughters, Katherine Brown and husband Shorty, Hutchinson, Barbara Balzer and husband Keith, Shawnee, and Connie Bogan and husband Phil, Keller, Texas; eight grandchildren, Kevin Brown and wife Marina, Hutchinson, Kent Brown and wife Lori, Maize, Jeannie Sherraden and husband Sean, Olathe, Jennifer Williams and husband Wade, Shawnee, Mike Balzer and wife Beth, Grimes, Iowa, Jill Balzer, Beltone, Texas, Sean Bogan and wife Mindy, Ft. Worth, Texas, Brenden Bogan and wife Shannon, Lewisville, Texas; a sister, Phyllis Jefferies, Milwaukee, Wis.; 14 great-grandchildren; and a host of friends at Wesley Towers, especially the bridge players.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers and two sisters.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Chaplin Bob Phipps officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at the funeral home. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Whitewater Cemetery, Whitewater.
Memorials made to Hospice of Reno County or Wesley Towers Good Samaritan Fund, in care of the funeral home. Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave personal condolences for the family.