Lester Lee Thomas

Lester “Les” Thomas was born on April 12, 1952 to Lee and Delpha Thomas in Holyoke, Colorado. He grew up on the family farm South of Lamar, NE where his parents instilled in him the value of hard work and a job well done. Les attended elementary school in Lamar, NE, where he developed close friendships with his classmates, many of which he maintained throughout his life. His summers were spent on the tractor and showing at the Chase County Fair. He attended Chase County High School in Imperial, NE, where he graduated in 1970. After graduating, he worked for a neighbor training horses in Imperial. Les inherited his love of animals from his Grandpa Houston, Grandpa Thomas, and his Dad. This would become a lifelong passion.

During his early 20s, Les spent his days attending college, competing in rodeos, and looking for guys to race in his ’69 Torino GT he paid for, in his words “farming acres and acres for $0.25 an hour.” After his parents sold the farm in 1972, Les attended horse shoeing school in Oklahoma and then moved to Berthoud, CO. Shortly thereafter he met a neighbor girl, Mary Sheehan, which he would later make his wife. Les and Mary were married on September 22, 1978. They moved to Glenvil, NE where Les obtained his degree in Machine Shop Technology. They returned to Colorado, settling in Longmont where they started their family. Les and Mary had three kids, Crystal, William “Billy”, and Drew. Les spent many weekends team roping, team penning, and showing horses. He exhibited at the National Western Stock Show and then began to volunteer. Throughout his life, Les enjoyed attending and viewing many events at the Stock Show, making the trip to Denver nearly every year. After saving some money, Les purchased equipment and began doing custom haying. Les cut many hayfields from Walden, CO to Greeley, CO and from Laramie, WY to Longmont, CO. Some of the happiest years of Les’ life were spent behind the wheel of his Hesston Swather. In the early 90s, Les moved his family to Central Nebraska. He continued to hay and began raising sheep and cows as his sons entered 4-H. In 2000, Les and Mary returned with their family to Colorado, this time to Kersey, CO. Les continued to raise sheep and cattle, on a smaller scale. After deciding to sell the sheep, and then the cattle, the ranch was quiet for a few years, until 2012. It was then, Les and his sons purchased two broodmares and began raising registered Quarter Horses. For Les, breeding Quarter Horses was the fulfillment of a lifelong passion. Many nights Les could be found, out in the corrals graining the mares and enjoying the foals. Les found great enjoyment watching and learning about natural horsemanship, a much more gentle approach than he learned in the early days. Even as he grew weak with illness, he would still manage to summon the strength to stand at the back door and watch the foals run across the pasture. Lester Thomas went to his heavenly home on August 25, 2021, surrounded by his family and loyal dog, Gus.

Les was born into a Christian home, and held his faith as a top priority throughout his life, a value which he passed along to his children. Serving God was his top priority, followed very closely by the love of his family. Les was extremely outgoing and loving, quickly making friends wherever he went. He touched many lives, was quick to lend an ear with his compassion shining through. He had a very eclectic group of friends, all of which loved him for his gentle soul and grace. He was an advocate of being a lifelong learner, always seeking improvement and learning new things. A research advocate, Les was always a fan of collecting details before making up one’s mind. When asked about how he was able to maintain his calm, peaceful demeanor, Les would give credit to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Thomas and Delpha (Houston) Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Sheehan) Thomas, and children Crystal (Roy) Harris of Eaton, CO, William (Tiffany) Thomas of Wellington, CO, and Drew (Amanda) Thomas of Wiggins, CO. His siblings Janette (John) Kuehn of Heartwell, NE and Walter (Sandy) Thomas of Hastings, NE. Along with Grandkids Connor Harris and Samantha Harris; together with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Memorial has been set up in Les’ honor at Plum Creek Church in Castle Rock, CO to benefit the Children’s Ministry. Lester Thomas Memorial c/o Bob Seale, Plum Creek Church, 960 S. Interstate 25, Castle Rock, CO 80104 www.plumcreek.church

Memorial Service will be on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at the Hunter Chapel, Allnutt Funeral Service, 2100 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO 80538. Viewing will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Memorial Service at 2:00 PM, and Reception at 3:00 PM. The Graveside Service will be the following day, Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 9:00 AM at Lakeside Cemetery.