Lester E. Dishong

Lester E. Dishong

Lester E. Dishong, age 82, of Gordon, died Oct. 27 at Gordon Memorial Hospital. Funeral Services were held Oct. 30, at the Gordon American Legion. Burial with Military Honors was at the Gordon Cemetery.

Lester was born on July 18, 1924, in Casper, to Leonard and Nora Thompson. They lived in Casper, and his father worked for a gas company. That year they had a gas fire and Leonard was killed. Nora and Les moved back to Kilgore, Neb., to be with her parents. When Les was two years old, Nora married Albert Dishong, and Albert later adopted Les.

The family moved to Merriman, Neb., where his father ranched and did some farming, he also worked for the post office. When Les was an eighth grader the family moved to Gordon. When Les was sixteen he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was known as the 3 C's. In 1943, Lester enlisted in the Navy and spent the next three years serving during World War II. In 1948 he joined the National Guard out of Green River, Wyo. This company was activated in 1951 for the Korean War. He was wounded in Korea and too good to be sent home. So he spent the rest of the time in Japan.

Lester married Doris Becker and they had four children: Carol, Sandra, Gary and Greg. He later married Carole Coon Benson on Aug. 13, 1982, in Lewistown, Mont.

Lester worked in the oil fields and ranched out of Scottsbluff, Neb. Later moving to Lewistown, Mont., and was a heavy equipment operator for Fergus County for the next 22 years. After Les retired he moved back to Gordon where he enjoyed fishing and having coffee with the boys.

He is survived by his wife Carole, a daughter Carol (Randy) Clarke and family and Sandy (Dale) Frickey and family, both of Bridgeport, Neb.; step children, Craig (Cindy) Benson and children of Mandan, N.D.; Tracie (Dr. Roger) Rudloff and children of Neligh, Neb.; Renee Sasse and boys of Gordon, Neb.; Martin Benson and children of Alliance, Neb.; Dorris (Mike) Roelle and girls of Peetz, Colo.; Denise (Kurt) Holscher and children of Crawford, Neb.; 23 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and brother Jerry (Marge) Dishong and family of Scottsbluff, Neb.

His father and mother, Albert and Nora, sons, Gary Dishong and Greg Dishong, a sister Agnes McKinnon, a sister Leona, a brother Albert Jr., and a brother James Dishong preceded him in death.

A memorial has been established for the Gordon American Legion.

Cicmanec-Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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