Kenneth Ray Lester

Kenneth Ray Lester age 94 of New Hampton, IA, died Thursday, June 25, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, IA.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton. with Rev. Dan Christensen officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Friends are invited to greet the family from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the church before the service.

Kenneth Ray Lester was born on November 20, 1931 in Marathon, Iowa to Raymond and Vera (Anderson) Lester.  At the age of three his family moved to Goldfield, IA.  He was baptized at the Christian Church in Goldfield, IA.  He graduated from Goldfield High School in 1949 and served in the Iowa National Guard from 1951 to 1958.

Growing up in Goldfield, his family operated the Fountain City Dairy.  Dairy products were delivered door to door by a team of horses and wagon.  He told us that the horses knew exactly where to stop.

On March 22, 1953 he was united in marriage to Thelma Wetterhus at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eagle Grove. They were married for 71 years. To this union, they were blessed with 5 daughters.

After marriage, Kenny and Thelma started farming by Hardy, Iowa.  In 1958, they moved to a farm north of New Hampton, Iowa where they lived for 61 years.  Through out the years, they raised hogs and cattle while growing corn, soybeans and oats.  They both loved life on the farm and raising their five daughters.  They were good stewards of the land. Kenny was also a salesman for NACHURS Fertilizer and Northrup King seed.   Retirement came in 1998 after which they spent winters in Arizona until 2023.   In 2019, they moved off the farm to New Hampton.  

He started singing in the 4th grade and the love of singing continued throughout his life.  Kenny had a singing part in his high school play the “HMS Pinafore”.  At his 50th high school reunion he sang all the parts from the play.  His memory was astounding.  You could hear him singing on the farm and he shared his talent in many ways.  He was a member of Crane Creek Lutheran Church choir, Trinity Lutheran senior choir and gospel group and sang for many weddings and funerals.  It was a very special moment when he sang at all of his daughter’s weddings.

In his youth he enjoyed playing baseball.  He also enjoyed bowling and joined a New Hampton league.  From there he joined a traveling bowling league which took them on many trips around the United States.  Kenny was inducted into the New Hampton Bowling Hall of Fame in 1989.  Later in life he took up golfing. He enjoyed golfing in couples and senior tournaments in New Hampton, Elma and Arizona.  He was an avid pool player.  He played as much as he could while in Arizona.

Kenny enjoyed his time with family and always amazed us with his memory and stories.  He loved to tell jokes and make people laugh.  He was never ever without a joke.  He will be dearly missed.

Kenny has deeply missed the love of his life, our Mother, since she passed in 2024.  It fills our hearts with love to know they are together again.

Kenneth is survived by his 5 daughters:  Diane Kowalski of Phoenix, AZ, Jan (Jim) Flaherty of Montevideo, MN, Susan Becker of Clear Lake, IA, Teresa (Gary) Becker of Alexandria, MN, and Karen (Wally) Peters of Maplewood, MN; Grandchildren:  Sara Kowalski and Nichole Kowalski of Phoenix, AZ, Nick (Tamara) Flaherty of Big Lake, MN, Ross (Breanna) Flaherty of Renville, MN, Amanda (Ed) Zipse of Clear Lake, IA, Mark (special friend Mary Franken) Becker of Ventura, IA, Adam (Katie) Becker of Lake Winnebago, MO, Joey (Hanna) Becker of Garfield, MN, Kenny Becker of Lees Summit, MO, Great Grandchildren:  Tristyn Brown, Lucas, Keegan, and Brynn Flaherty, Jamison and Layla Flaherty, Alistair and Ava Zipse, Layla and Logan Becker, Tate, Myles and Brody Becker.  Sister-in-law and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Roy Azinger of Mesa, AZ.  Nieces and Nephews:  Julie (Steve) Lang, Rick (Chris) Lester, Scott Lester, Dean Schipull, Kolleen Schipull, Jodi(David) Scott, Jill (Mitch) Lewey.

Kenneth was preceded in death by Thelma his wife of 71 years in 2024, who he dearly missed, his parents, brother and sister-in-law Don and Kay Lester, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Kristine and Don Schipull, brother-in-law Jerry McAllister, nephews David Lester, Curtis Lester and David Schipull.

Our family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Mercy One North Iowa Medical Center and the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the compassionate care our Dad and family received while they were taking care of him.