Lester Vad, 87 of rural Oklee, MN died on Monday, November 6, 2023 at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, MN.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 14th  from 5 to 7 PM, with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM, at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, MN, on Wednesday, November 15th, at 11 AM, and visitation from 10 to 11 AM. Rev. Jonathan Dodson will officiate.

Burial will be in the Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery, rural Oklee, MN.

Lester James Vad was born October 14, 1936 in Highlanding Township, Minnesota the son of Clifford and Inga (Geving) Vad. He was baptized and confirmed at Ekelund Lutheran Church, rural Goodridge, MN. Lester attended Highlanding Country School near the family farm, Goodridge School and graduated in 1954 from Northwest School of Agriculture High School (currently UMC) in Crookston, MN.

Following high school, Lester returned to the family farm where they raised small grains and dairy cattle.

On December 27, 1958, Lester was united in marriage to Beulah Jane Stolaas at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, MN. They had two children—Julie and Gary. They lived in Grand Forks, ND, Minot, ND, and Hibbing, MN, before moving to their farm in the fall of 1968.

Lester and Beulah purchased the Johnson Farm in Mayfield Township where they raised beef cattle, pigs, hay and small grains for a number of years. In addition to farming, Lester continued to work construction for Murray Enterprises throughout the upper Midwest.

Lester and Beulah enjoyed traveling to various destinations including to Norway, Sweden, Bahamas, Hawaii, and Mexico. Following retirement, from 2005 to 2022, Lester and Beulah spent their winters in Apache Junction, AZ. The couple met and maintained many good friends during their time in Arizona.

Lester was an active member at Ebenezer Lutheran Church.

Lester is survived by his daughter, Julie (Mitchell) Dicken, Brooklyn Park, MN; son, Gary, Oklee, MN; grandchildren: Bryan Arveson, Craig Arveson, Alec (Melanie) Dicken, Alli (Steven) Lyseng; great-grandchildren: Alea, Lindsey, Steven, and Charlie; siblings, Ione (Norman) Nelson of Oklee, MN, Betty Sandeen of Thief River Falls and Judy Schmidt of Texas, Audrey (Dave) Hanson of Gary, MN, Lynn (Laurie) Vad of Park Rapids, MN; brother-in-law, Orlan Stolaas; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Beulah; parents; brother, LaVerne Vad; sister, Arlene Mathson; brothers-in-law, Milo Sandeen and Barry Schmidt; sister-in-law, Clarice Stolaas.