Lester M. Johnston was born January 27, 1929, south of Belvidere, South Dakota, the son of Louris and Louise (Jones) Johnston.

As an infant he moved with his parents to a ranch south of Kadoka.  He grew up there and received his education in Washabaugh and Jackson County schools.

In 1947, Lester entered the U.S. Army, serving his basic training at Ft. Ord, California, and then was stationed at Scoffield Army Base in Hawaii until his honorable discharge in 1949.

After his discharge he returned to the Kadoka area where he worked with his father on the ranch.

Lester was united in marriage to Mary McIalwain on May 5, 1951, at Milaca, Minnesota.  They purchased a ranch north of Belvidere in 1955 and continued to farm and ranch there until the time of his death.

Lester was a member of the Belvidere Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder for six years.  He was a member of the Pederson Stoddard American Legion Post #144 of Belvidere.

Lester devoted his life to his family and enjoyed ranching and farming.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary Johnston of Belvidere; two sons and their spouses, Larry and Jo Johnston of Kadoka, and Lonny and Carrie Johnston of Belvidere; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Lloyd Johnston and his wife, Terry, of Kadoka; two sisters, Geraldine Seidler and her husband, C.A. "Connie", of Kadoka, and Norma Jean Hopkins and her husband, Pete, of Kadoka; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Lester was preceded in death by a daughter, Cindy Lou Johnston; his parents; and a brother, Leonard Johnston.

A memorial has been established.

Services
Thursday, September 11, 1997
10:00 a.m.
Presbyterian Church
Belvidere, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Gary McCubbin

Music
Syd Iwan - Organist
Jill Eckert - Vocalist

Ushers
Keith Bonenberger - Jim Mansfield

Active Pallbearers
Larry Dolezal - John Dolezal
Fred Peters - Jim Nemec
Jim Willert - John Ekstrum

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Belvidere Cemetery
Belvidere, South Dakota