Lester Otto Boyer

Lester Otto Boyer, 87, of Cottage Grove, MN, lost his valiant 15 yr battle with Alzheimer’s, passing away on May 4, 2025 at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN.

He was born at the Old St. John’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO on January 18, 1938.

He was raised in the small town of Steeleville, IL to Otto John and Clara ’nee’ Schlimme Boyer. His parents preceded him in death along with a 2-day old infant sister Darlene Lou.

Les and his grade school buddies left home in the morning fishing, biking, hunting, exploring, and enjoying all the challenges a small town safely provided in the 40’s, only returning home for supper.

His learned his lifelong core values of hard work, integrity, honesty, dedication, and thriftiness helping his parents till, plant, and harvest vegetables and then selling them around town from his little red wagon earning his first little nest egg.

As a teenager he worked in a grocery store, setting up pins at a bowling alley the old-fashioned way by hand, pumping gas, and mowing lawns.

He attended St Mark’s Lutheran Church School in Steeleville grades 1 thru 8. Les also served as an usher in church. He started HS in Sparta, IL finishing at the new Steeleville HS. He played basketball, baseball, and hammed it up in school plays. He and his friends built a swimming and diving dock in one of the mine lakes enjoying those activities along with water skiing. He also started his longtime love of golf playing with his buddies. He retained lifelong friendships with many of the HS friends.

He had a marvelous carefree childhood with super memories and stories which he enjoyed regaling many times over.

He was one of a handful of classmates in his graduating class of 26 that graduated from college. He did so at Rolla School of Mines with a BS in Civil Engineering. He worked his way thru college as a busboy at a fraternity during the school year and then bartending and working in the mines in the summertime. Upon graduation, he applied for and was accepted to Naval OCS in Newport, RI. While waiting for his slot, he worked for the ILDOT. Upon graduation he was commissioned an Ensign and was stationed in San Diego serving on the APA-27 USS George Clymer. Five young Ensigns would become fast friends and remain so getting together, plus their wives, for mini reunions over the years especially in Napa Valley where one of the friends opened a winery after departing the Navy.

He told many favorite stories of his Navy years recounting 2 in particular. He woke up one morning to the fact there were only 2 ships left in their flotilla, theirs was the flagship that held the Admiral so they sailed on to Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines and then Vietnam. The rest of the ships had been rerouted to cover the Bay of Pigs uprising in Cuba. The George Clymer was a smaller ship and was able to sail up the rivers landing Marines inland during the Vietnam War, taking enemy fire in the process. Les served as Engineering Officer on both ships. After his tour of the Pacific, he sailed thru the Panama Canal for the first time, being stationed in Norfolk aboard the Pulaski County for the rest of his tour of duty.

Les was discharged from the Navy in April 1965 and moved to St Louis having been offered a job in engineering for Monsanto chemical Company. He received a Master’s degree in Business Administration, this, along with his dedication and hard work helped promote him to various positions in the company ending his 32 years as VP of Monsanto Enviro Chem Operations.

He was blessed with, and survived by his wife Bev, whom he married April 16, 1966. They celebrated their 59th anniversary during his last stay in the hospital. Also surviving, their daughter, Bridget Pace (David) and their 3 children, Caitlin, Hunter, and Ryker of Cottage Grove, MN, and a son Brian and his 3 children Taylour, Cooper and Truman from the KC area.

Les was a proud and super Poppa, putting thousands of miles on the cars driving to MN and KC attending the grandchildren’s soccer games, swim meets, cheerleading competitions, karate tournaments, baseball games, boy scout activities, dance recitals, school programs, graduations; as many events as he could attend.

Les and Bev lived in St Louis for 60 years enjoying all that St Louis had to offer. In retirement he especially enjoyed the Muny, a summer outdoor musical theater, always dragging Bev out right before the end, golfing with the guys, lots of wine outings, week long trips with their Monsanto friends to Florida, the Carolinas, golf trips, and many, many get togethers.

He took great pride in the home they built in 1987, grooming the yard, building a deck, sunroom, porch, and building a whole apartment in their basement. He was Bev’s Mr. Fixit. He also took care of the cars, a skill he learned from his Father. Les was kind and always helpful to his neighbors and friends. He relished eating out often at his handful of favorite restaurants.

In retirement, Les and Bev traveled extensively to all 50 states, every Canadian province, Mexico, most of Central and South America, and were lucky enough to visit over 60 other countries. He enjoyed the beauty, culture, museums, cathedrals, most food, mountains, landscapes, and especially meeting the people. He was so proud when he was in Russia that he worked very hard to make one of the Babushka’s guarding a museum art room, SMILE. He was an avid phone picture taker on trips, wandering off and getting left behind by his tour group not once but twice. He enjoyed the last cruise that they were able to take that took him again thru the Panama Canal observing how it had changed in 55 years since his first trip thru. He didn’t know a stranger making friends everywhere he went. His warm smile, friendliness and infectious laughter were contagious. He came from a time when people hugged and were not afraid to express their love and emotions.

He was a man of deep faith belonging to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette for almost 60 years.

It was very hard for Les to leave the wonderful neighbors and neighborhood where he and Bev built their home 37 years earlier, but as his Alzheimer’s became more advanced, family help was needed so they moved to be near their daughter and her family in MN where he received very caring and professional help to make his last days comfortable. The end of life care he received from all the depts and staff at the Minneapolis VA center made his last month in the hospital very dignified.

Les’ funeral will be at KOK Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S.; Cottage Grove, MN 55016

Visitation will be 9:30 - 10:30 am on Tuesday May 13, 2025

Funeral Service to follow at 10:30 am

Family burial interment at Fort Snelling following service.

Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimers Association if desired.

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