Clara Lester

Clara left this world to be with the Lord on October 16, 2011. Born to German immigrants Peter and Dora Schmidt, the sixth of twelve children on the family homestead in Morton county ND. On March 18, 1918, she met Van Lester in ND in 1946 and they were married in Butte, MT in 1947 she was married to him until his passing in 1999. She became a cosmetologist and worked in various shops and eventually became an instructor for Cady’s School of Beauty in Spokane Valley for many years. She Is survived by one daughter Linda (Robert) Tininenko of Longview, WA., son Denny Lester of Spokane, WA., and two granddaughters Jennifer (Matt) Rarity, of Seattle, WA., and Jaclyn (Brandon) Simchuk of Vancouver, WA., brother Benny Schmidt, of Glen Ullin, ND., Julius Schmidt of Coeur d’Alene, ID., sister Lenore Craze of Spokane, WA., and Richard Schmidt of Fort Collins, CO and many nieces and nephews. Clara enjoyed sewing and quilting especially working with the ladies of Redeemer Lutheran Church where she had been a member for sixty years. She worked on making baby quilts for the less fortunate. A visitation will take place on Thursday, October 20, 2011 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, there will be a Graveside committal service on Friday, October 21, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. with a Memorial service to follow at the Redeemer Lutheran Church at 12:00 noon.