Lester R. Baustian, 92, Luverne, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at the Bethany Lutheran Home in Brandon, South Dakota.
A funeral Mass was Monday, Feb. 27, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial was in the St. Catherine Cemetery in Luverne.
Lester Baustian was born May 13, 1930, in Luverne, to Walter Sr. and Frances (Brandenberg) Baustian on the farm in Denver Township near Hardwick. He attended school at the Springwater Township School. When he was in fourth grade, the family moved to a farm near Trosky for three years. Then they moved to a farm southwest of Luverne, and the children attended school in Luverne. Later they moved northwest of Luverne.
After graduation from Luverne High School in 1948, Lester joined the Army National Guard meetings in Luverne. He went into active duty in January 1951 and was honorably discharged in the spring of 1952. While in service he served at Ft. Rucker in Alabama.
Lester married Leora Schievelbein of Humboldt, South Dakota, at St. Catherine Catholic Church on April 18, 1956. Lester farmed from 1952 until retirement in 1996 when son Brian took over the farming. Lester joined the National Farmers Organization in March 1964. He was chairman of Rock County NFO from 1965 until 1970 and then bargaining coordinator five years. He holds a lifetime membership of the NFO (National Farmers Organization).
Lester began selling O’s Gold Seed in 1971. He won many rewards and plaques, as well as trips to Hawaii, Caribbean Islands and Cancun. He also was a member of the Minnesota and National Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Association and served on the Rock County Board of Soybean Association.
Lester served as a supervisor on Springwater Township Board for three years. Lester was very involved in conservation, and his farm practices included terraces to slow soil loss and washouts and contouring crops, as well as a pond and grassed waterways throughout the farm to stop erosion.
Gardening was always Lester’s love and for many years all his children helped grow, pick and can 200 to 300 jars of foods for winter.
Lester also had an Honorary Life Membership of the American Legion, Post 0478, Hardwick, for 26 years in 2006.
Lester was confirmed in the Catholic faith at age 11 at St. Joseph’s Church in Jasper. He was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne and became a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Knights of Columbus in 1958. Lester loved singing and sang in the choir at St. Catherine for 15 years and cantored for eight years.
Les and Leora enjoyed dancing, especially square dancing, and became members of the Hollyhoppers Square Dance Club in Jasper in 1970. They served on the square dance board for two years. They participated in numerous square dancing events and traveled to many places including San Diego and Hawaii.
Lester is survived by his seven children, Paul (Denae) Baustian of Harrisburg, South Dakota, Brian (Barb) Baustian of Garretson, South Dakota, Anne (Doug) Horst of Piedmont, South Dakota, Greg Baustian of Worthington, Susan (Steve Mitchell) Baustian, of Hudson, Wisconsin, Kevin (Wendy) Baustian of Loudon, Tennessee, and Mary (Don) Olson of Dennison; 27 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Neva Clausen, of Luverne, and Sr. Joan Baustian of Detroit, Michigan.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Leora, on July 4, 2017; a son, Robert Baustian, in 2003; and an infant child.
Arrangements were provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
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