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Norman William Lester
A service for Norman William Lester, of Sequim, was held July 7 at Sequim Masonic Lodge. Burial is at Sequim View Cemetery.
Mr. Lester died July 2, 2001. He was 84.
He was born Aug. 11, 1916, at Renton, to Fred Leland and Clara Etta Rucker Lester. He grew up in and around Quilcene, where he attended school.
In his early 20s, Mr. Lester went to Forks, where he met and married Laura "Gean" Bena in 1938. Mrs. Lester preceded him in death in 1987.
The family owned homes in Port Angeles and in Petaluma, Calif., for several years, and Mr. Lester worked for employers in both states. He served in the U.S. Navy and the C-Bees.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, Mr. Lester and his family returned to Port Angeles, where he worked as an auto mechanic for Samulson's Ford Garage. He then moved to Sherbourne Road, between Sequim and Port Angeles, where he farmed and logged on the side.
During his life, Mr. Lester was a man of many trades: farmer, logger, long haul trucker and auto mechanic, but nothing pleased him more than when, with the help of his wife and children, he purchased a service station on the corner of Washington Street and Fifth Avenue in Sequim. They built a "mom and pop" grocery, known as Lester's Service and Grocery. Later he added a wrecker, ambulance and taxi cab. He also sold used cars and farm equipment from the site.
They retired in 1959 and began traveling, spending some summers in Arizona. They visited most of the United States and parts of Europe. The Lesters built and operated the Idle Wheels mobile park in Sequim before retiring a second time.
Mr. Lester enjoyed rock hounding and did beautiful lapidary work. He also dabbled in ceramics.
In 1991 he and Marjorie Russell, a close family friend, married. Together they traveled and enjoyed modern camping as his health would allow. They made their home in Sequim.
Mr. Lester was father, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend to many, and he will be truly missed by all who knew him, according to the family.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Lester is survived by daughters Evelyn "Kaye" Erickson and Barbara "Bobbie" Jean Young, both of Sequim; son William "Billy" Jay Lester, of Port Angeles; stepchildren Carol Simons, Jeanny Schroedel, Johnny Russell, Jackie Anderson and Mike Russell; 29 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to his first wife, Mr. Lester was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, a brother and a grandson.
Drennan & Ford Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Robert R. Callahan
A celebration of the life of Robert R. "Bob" Callahan, of Sequim, was held July 1 at Bainbridge Island. Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Mr. Callahan died June 23, 2001. He was 79.
He was born Jan. 30, 1922, in Prescott, the youngest child of Daniel and Myrtle Hart Callahan.
He graduated from Prescott High School before joining the U.S. Army. He served as a communications sergeant with the 517th Parachute Regiment during World War II, earning the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Croix de Guerre. He served in Italy, Southern France and the Battle of the Bulge.
Following VE Day, he was at Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's headquarters in Berlin until his duty ended in November 1945.
Mr. Callahan worked on wheat farms in Eastern Washington after the war. In 1956 he joined the Boeing Co. as a quality control inspector.
He and Jane Peters Bunce married in 1964, and he became father to her four children. In 1965 their daughter was born, and in 1970 a niece joined their family.
In 1980 Mr. Callahan retired from Boeing. He then owned his own business on Bainbridge Island, Callahan Ground Services.
Mr. Callahan was an avid Seattle Mariners fan, and in 1990 he became a Kingdome usher, which allowed him to watch the games there. His wife says it was his favorite job.
In 1994 the Callahans moved to Dominion Terrace in Sequim. He loved his home and the surround beauty of the Olympic Peninsula.
Mr. Callahan was a member of the American Legion, Colin Hyde Post 172 of Bainbridge Island.
In addition to his wife at the family home, Mr. Callahan is survived by daughter Elizabeth Joy Dadoun, of Seattle; foster niece Karen Hedges, of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; stepsons Jay Bunce, of Bainbridge Island, Jeffrey Bunce, of Seattle, and Peter Bunce of Van Nuys, Calif. stepdaughter Dorothy Gail Bunce, of Las Vegas, Nev. one grandchild and numerous other, also much-loved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, 4414 Woodlawn Park N., Seattle 98103 or a favorite charity.
People's Memorial Association, of Seattle, and Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home, of Bremerton, were in charge of arrangements.
Kenneth O. Ferdig
A graveside service for Kenneth O. "Kayo" Ferdig, of Sequim, is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at Mount Angeles Memorial Park in Port Angeles. Jason Smith will preside.
Mr. Ferdig died July 4, 2001. He was 67.
He was born Nov. 15, 1933, in Custer, S.D., to Cyrus Aaron and Addie Mae Pearl Hayes Ferdig.
He and Victoria Nonie Smith married Sept. 22, 1980, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Mr. Ferdig served from 1955-1959 as an airplane mechanic in the U.S. Air Force.
He lived in Port Angeles and Sequim for the past 57 years and worked as a fireman in both cities. He also worked as a master mechanic in local mills for several years, then owned and operated a dairy farm.
In addition to his wife at the family home, Mr. Ferdig is survived by sons Kenneth Ferdig Jr., of Poulsbo, and Wayne Ferdig, of Sequim; daughters Gina Nordskog, Valerie VanAusdle and Laura Yockey, all of Port Angeles; stepson Ronni Faulkner, of Nashville, Mich.; stepdaughter Linda Kurtz, of Tacoma; brother Jim Ferdig, of California; sisters Marian Williams, of Mukilteo, and Doris Carver, of Auburn; 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by stepson Bob Faulkner.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, Clallam Unit, P.O. Box 861, Port Angeles, 98362.
Drennan & Ford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Aaron Serwe
A graveside service for Michael Aaron Serwe, of Port Angeles, is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, July 14 at Mount Angeles Memorial Park in Port Angeles.
Mr. Serwe died July 4, 2001, in Kirkland. He was 75.
He was born Jan. 31, 1926, in Copalis, to Aaron Michael and Rmeda DePew Serwe.
He spent his early years in Copalis, then the family moved to Sequim and he graduated from high school here. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the European Theater. Following his discharge, he attended Grays Harbor Community College.
He returned to Sequim for a few years, then moved to Port Angeles, where he worked at the ITT Rayonier Mill.
Mr. Serwe was an avid writer and poet. He loved to tell jokes and metal detecting. He raced motorcycles and hydroplanes.
Mr. Serwe was a member of the American Legion.
He is survived by nieces and nephews Eugene E. Becker, of Shelton, Medielaine DePouli, of Enumclaw, Michael L. Becker, of Bellevue, and Ethel M. Colon, of Margate, Fla.; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by sister Alice L. Becker.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, Clallam County Unit, P.O. Box 861, Port Angeles, 98362.
Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Cornelia Catherine Yager
A funeral for Cornelia Catherine Yager, of Sequim, was held July 7 in Monroe City, Mo.
Mrs. Yager died July 1, 2001. She was 86.
She was born Oct. 5, 1914, in Monroe City, Mo., one of 12 children of Edgar Lee and Nora Frances Lefever Young. She and Everett Harold Yager married July 4, 1934. They were longtime residents of Monroe City and Mexico, Mo. Mr. Yager preceded her in death in June 1973.
Mrs. Yager was a Sequim resident for the past five years.
Mrs. Yager is survived by daughters Mary Hague, of Sequim, and Eleanor Beeson, of Warrenton, Mo; sisters Elsie Leake, of Monroe City, Mo., and Leona McNeil, of New London, Mo.; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to a favorite charity.
Garner's Funeral Home of Monroe City was in charge of arrangements.
Carl Eugene Pister
A funeral for Carl Eugene Pister, of Sequim, was held July 10 at Dungeness Community Church. A graveside service followed at Sequim View Cemetery. The Rev. Neil Smith presided.
Mr. Pister died July 4, 2001. He was 81.
He was born Aug. 20, 1919, in Belle Fourche, S.D., to John George and Molly Rutz Pister.
He and Grace Mariam Rodabaugh married Aug. 17, 1947, in Williamstown, Ohio.
Mr. Pister served as a quartermaster with the U.S. Army from 1941-1971, retiring as a colonel. He served in Germany, Japan, and Buenas Aires, Argentina. He also lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas and New Jersey.
He earned a master's degree in international affairs.
Mr. Pister enjoyed his family and friends, traveling, cooking and gardening.
He was a member of Dungeness Community Church, the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and Gideons, International.
In addition to his wife at the family home, Mr. Pister is survived by sons Gregory Pister, of Charlottsville, Va., and Terry Pister, of Port Angeles; daughter Pamela Pister Johnson, of Port Angeles; sister Marian Cameron, of Moses Lake; and three grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 1695, Sequim, 98382.
Sequim Valley Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
