Leslie Earl Amonson grew up on the family farm in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan. He was taught in a one-room school with one teacher for 9 grades. At the age of fifteen, having just failed his grade nine exams, Les and his parents thought he might have a brighter future if he were to join two of his siblings at a Red Deer based bible school. He left the family farm with $100 in his pocket, which was all the excess cash that his folks had after a crop failure.
With the help of supportive teachers and a determined spirit, Les graduated high school at the age of twenty, having taken several extended work breaks to earn enough money to pay his school tuition.
In the fall of 1941, Les joined the RCAF, learning to fly in Tiger Moth fabric biplanes, with skis, landing on frozen lakes and fields. He was a natural pilot, graduating second in his class of sixty, choosing the posting of Regina as a flight instructor. There, Dad met Traudie and it was love at first sight. They married and enjoyed 72 years together before Traudie passed away in 2017.
In 1945, with RCAF Officer experience, and the hard-earned high school degree in hand, Les entered and graduated from Dental school at the U of A. Dr. Amonson ran successful dental practices in both Fort Frances, Ontario and Calgary for over forty years.
Les and Traudie were active supporters of the Lutheran Church over the years and, in their leisure, loved to travel. Les enjoyed making (and drinking!) wine and was an excellent stained-glass artist. He also loved gardening and had a magnificent garden in their Lakeview Village family home.
Traudie and Les moved to Lethbridge 2015 and lived their final years at the Good Samaritan West Highlands Centre. The family is very thankful to the staff at the Highlands, where Les and Traudie received outstanding care over the last few years.
Les passed without burden on Friday, January 24, 2020.
Les is survived by four children: Jerrold (Joanne), Johanne, Cheryl (Thomas), and John (Nancy) and their families, including eight grandchildren: Jonathan, Morgan, Joshua, Christopher, Emily, Taylor, Rebecca, Luke, and nine great-grandchildren. Les was predeceased by his grandson Matthew.
A private family service will be held on Friday, January 31, 2020
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