Kjell Ray Lester

Kjell Ray Lester, 50, nearly a lifelong Winthrop resident and Businessman, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. His passing marks the end of 51 years of a retail business in downtown Winthrop for the Lester family. He was born on May 13, 1966 to John and Carol (Gatewood) Lester at the Brewster Hospital. Kjell grew up in Winthrop but attended the Greenlake School for the Deaf in Seattle for his first and second grade. He continued his schooling in Winthrop and graduated from Liberty Bell High School in 1985 as a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and baseball. He continued his education at Seattle Community College and Big Ben Community College working part-time as an Auto Mechanic for an auction company to pay tuition. He received his Private Pilot's License, during this time too. Upon returning to Winthrop, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the trail systems. In 1991, Kjell along with his brother, Kory, started the "White Buck Trading Company, a souvenir shop in Winthrop. Once well established, Kory let Kjell continue the operation of the store. In 2012, the television reality show, "American Pickers", came to the White Buck Trading Company and purchased 32 items on their program. The most memorable item was a Grizzly Bear Trap, which sold for $3,500.00. He continued the operation of the store until starting a new business in 2014, known as "Lester Pump Service". This was a domestic and irrigation pump service company. He continued his pump service company until ill health made it no longer possible. He enjoyed life in the Methow Valley, hunting, fishing, and hunting with his hounds. Kjell and two friends became a volunteer for the Washington State Game Department on a special Grant Study of Cougars in the Methow. He assisted by using his trained hounds to catch, tranquilize and implant tracking devises, to observe their territories for ten years. In 2013, he received Volunteer of The Year from the Washington State Game Dept. Kjell is survived by his companion, Julee May, Winthrop; parents, John and Carol Lester, Okanogan; brother, Kory J. Lester, Okanogan; maternal grandparents, Herb and June Gatewood, Wenatchee; aunts and uncles, Tom & Fae Graves, Winthrop, Ralph Lester and JoAnn, Forks, Patricia Lester-Davis, Okanogan, Bill and Sharon Lester, Port Orchard, Ray Soule, Bremerton, and Joyce Rieson, Wenatchee. His paternal grandparents and step-grandmother, Emma Graves Lester preceded him in death. A Commemoration Service will be on Sunday, June 12, 2016, 2:00pm at "The Barn" in Winthrop. Memories and condolences can be left at his online guestbook at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com . In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donations to either AERO METHOW RESCUE SERVICE,(http://www.aeromethow.org) or WINTHROP AUDITORIUM ASSOCIATION (http://www.winthropbarn.com) Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Kjell Ray Lester

May 13, 1966 - May 28, 2016