Lester E. Spears

Monday, February 18, 2002

BENKELMAN -- Lester E. Spears, 81, died Thursday (Feb. 14, 2002) at the Chase County Hospital in Imperial.

He was born Nov. 10, 1920, in Rawlins County, Kan. to Sherman and Flossie (Hoover) Spears and was raised on a farm south of Stratton.  On Jan. 14, 1942, he married Mable Bleche at Benkelman. He farmed in the Benkelman area until 1955, when they moved to Sacramento, Calif. and he was employed by Union Pacific Railroad. He later worked for the Rio Linda School District, where he started as night custodian and then became a carpenter for the district. They moved back to the Benkelman area following his retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and three sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Mable Spears of Benkelman; two sons, Phillip and wife, Norma Spears of Rio Linda, Calif., Larry Spears of Sacramento, Calif.; one sister, Mildred Stretch and husband, Leslie Stretch of Hamlet; three brothers, Glen and wife, Vernice Spears of Benkelman, Bob and wife, Donna Spears of Booneville, Calif., Eldon and wife, Donna Spears of Arvada, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Arlene Spears of Benkelman and Deloris Spears of Peoria, Ill.; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., in the Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with the Rev. Norman Prather officiating. Interment will be in the Benkelman Cemetery. Committal will be provided by Masonic Lodge No. 173, A.F. & A.M. 

Visitation will be today until 7 p.m. at Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman.

Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman is in charge of arrangements.