St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) - July 31, 2001
Deceased Name: Fike , Abel Lester (Les)
Fike , Abel Lester (Les), 81, formerly of Wyoming, MN and Billings, MT, passed away peacefully at home in Nathalia, Australia, on July 27, after a courageous battle with a second bout of cancer.
Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Teresa Rosalie (Archer);
his parents, Martha & Charles Fike ;
and 3 brother, Walter, LeRoy and Lawrence.
He is survived by his cherished companion of 7 years, Sylvia Fike ; his brothers, Neil, Fred and Arthur; his sisters, Marjorie Miner, Olive Jacob, Marie Schell, Ruthe Mayer, and Grace Schell; his children, Teresa (Eloy) Garcia , MN, Mary (Lita) Fike , Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter) Schmidt, TX; Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter0 Schmidt, TX, Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Collette (Bruce) Lees of Taiwan, Republic of China; as well as his 18 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Lester was born in Morristown, ND on Feb. 13, 1920.
He graduated from high school in Lemmon, SD, moved to Willmar, MN, married Teresa Rosalie Archer on Aug. 15, 1940.
They had their first child, Teresa, in 1941, before Lester enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served three years as Chief Petty Officer/Storekeeper on the USS Pryor, returning to Willmar in 1945.
They had six more children before moving near Wyoming, MN, where he raised dairy cattle on a small farm. He also worked as a plumber in St. Paul, a loyal member of Plumbers Union Local #34 for over 20 years. Lester & Teresa retired in 1975, and began traveling, first visiting friends and relatives throughout the U.S., then Chile, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Jerusalem.
They finally settled in Australia near their daughter, Collette. Les & Teresa began travelling around Australia, stopping at local nursing homes, making new "Aussie" friends and performing polka dances for the residents. Ater Teresa passed away in 1991, Lester began spending part of the year in the U.S., again visiting his family and friends, and going back to Australia during the U.S. winter.
After a successful battle with cancer in 1993, Lester had a recurrence in 2000 and returned to Australia to continue his treatment.
He was cared for at home by daughter Collette and family. The family wishes to thank Nathalia Palliative Care Unit for all their support and their generous gifts of excellent attention adn time. Mass will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Nathalia, Victoria, Australia.
A memorial service for family and friends in the U.S. will be held at a later date.
Deceased Name: Fike , Abel Lester (Les)
Fike , Abel Lester (Les), 81, formerly of Wyoming, MN and Billings, MT, passed away peacefully at home in Nathalia, Australia, on July 27, after a courageous battle with a second bout of cancer.
Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Teresa Rosalie (Archer);
his parents, Martha & Charles Fike ;
and 3 brother, Walter, LeRoy and Lawrence.
He is survived by his cherished companion of 7 years, Sylvia Fike ; his brothers, Neil, Fred and Arthur; his sisters, Marjorie Miner, Olive Jacob, Marie Schell, Ruthe Mayer, and Grace Schell; his children, Teresa (Eloy) Garcia , MN, Mary (Lita) Fike , Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter) Schmidt, TX; Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter0 Schmidt, TX, Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Collette (Bruce) Lees of Taiwan, Republic of China; as well as his 18 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Lester was born in Morristown, ND on Feb. 13, 1920.
He graduated from high school in Lemmon, SD, moved to Willmar, MN, married Teresa Rosalie Archer on Aug. 15, 1940.
They had their first child, Teresa, in 1941, before Lester enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served three years as Chief Petty Officer/Storekeeper on the USS Pryor, returning to Willmar in 1945.
They had six more children before moving near Wyoming, MN, where he raised dairy cattle on a small farm. He also worked as a plumber in St. Paul, a loyal member of Plumbers Union Local #34 for over 20 years. Lester & Teresa retired in 1975, and began traveling, first visiting friends and relatives throughout the U.S., then Chile, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Jerusalem.
They finally settled in Australia near their daughter, Collette. Les & Teresa began travelling around Australia, stopping at local nursing homes, making new "Aussie" friends and performing polka dances for the residents. Ater Teresa passed away in 1991, Lester began spending part of the year in the U.S., again visiting his family and friends, and going back to Australia during the U.S. winter.
After a successful battle with cancer in 1993, Lester had a recurrence in 2000 and returned to Australia to continue his treatment.
He was cared for at home by daughter Collette and family. The family wishes to thank Nathalia Palliative Care Unit for all their support and their generous gifts of excellent attention adn time. Mass will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Nathalia, Victoria, Australia.
A memorial service for family and friends in the U.S. will be held at a later date.
St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) - July 31, 2001
Deceased Name: Fike , Abel Lester (Les)
Fike , Abel Lester (Les), 81, formerly of Wyoming, MN and Billings, MT, passed away peacefully at home in Nathalia, Australia, on July 27, after a courageous battle with a second bout of cancer.
Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Teresa Rosalie (Archer);
his parents, Martha & Charles Fike ;
and 3 brother, Walter, LeRoy and Lawrence.
He is survived by his cherished companion of 7 years, Sylvia Fike ; his brothers, Neil, Fred and Arthur; his sisters, Marjorie Miner, Olive Jacob, Marie Schell, Ruthe Mayer, and Grace Schell; his children, Teresa (Eloy) Garcia , MN, Mary (Lita) Fike , Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter) Schmidt, TX; Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter0 Schmidt, TX, Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Collette (Bruce) Lees of Taiwan, Republic of China; as well as his 18 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Lester was born in Morristown, ND on Feb. 13, 1920.
He graduated from high school in Lemmon, SD, moved to Willmar, MN, married Teresa Rosalie Archer on Aug. 15, 1940.
They had their first child, Teresa, in 1941, before Lester enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served three years as Chief Petty Officer/Storekeeper on the USS Pryor, returning to Willmar in 1945.
They had six more children before moving near Wyoming, MN, where he raised dairy cattle on a small farm. He also worked as a plumber in St. Paul, a loyal member of Plumbers Union Local #34 for over 20 years. Lester & Teresa retired in 1975, and began traveling, first visiting friends and relatives throughout the U.S., then Chile, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Jerusalem.
They finally settled in Australia near their daughter, Collette. Les & Teresa began travelling around Australia, stopping at local nursing homes, making new "Aussie" friends and performing polka dances for the residents. Ater Teresa passed away in 1991, Lester began spending part of the year in the U.S., again visiting his family and friends, and going back to Australia during the U.S. winter.
After a successful battle with cancer in 1993, Lester had a recurrence in 2000 and returned to Australia to continue his treatment.
He was cared for at home by daughter Collette and family. The family wishes to thank Nathalia Palliative Care Unit for all their support and their generous gifts of excellent attention adn time. Mass will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Nathalia, Victoria, Australia.
A memorial service for family and friends in the U.S. will be held at a later date.
Deceased Name: Fike , Abel Lester (Les)
Fike , Abel Lester (Les), 81, formerly of Wyoming, MN and Billings, MT, passed away peacefully at home in Nathalia, Australia, on July 27, after a courageous battle with a second bout of cancer.
Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 51 years, Teresa Rosalie (Archer);
his parents, Martha & Charles Fike ;
and 3 brother, Walter, LeRoy and Lawrence.
He is survived by his cherished companion of 7 years, Sylvia Fike ; his brothers, Neil, Fred and Arthur; his sisters, Marjorie Miner, Olive Jacob, Marie Schell, Ruthe Mayer, and Grace Schell; his children, Teresa (Eloy) Garcia , MN, Mary (Lita) Fike , Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter) Schmidt, TX; Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Mari Haddox, MN; Rita (Walter0 Schmidt, TX, Tony (Jill) Fike , MN, Collette (Bruce) Lees of Taiwan, Republic of China; as well as his 18 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Lester was born in Morristown, ND on Feb. 13, 1920.
He graduated from high school in Lemmon, SD, moved to Willmar, MN, married Teresa Rosalie Archer on Aug. 15, 1940.
They had their first child, Teresa, in 1941, before Lester enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served three years as Chief Petty Officer/Storekeeper on the USS Pryor, returning to Willmar in 1945.
They had six more children before moving near Wyoming, MN, where he raised dairy cattle on a small farm. He also worked as a plumber in St. Paul, a loyal member of Plumbers Union Local #34 for over 20 years. Lester & Teresa retired in 1975, and began traveling, first visiting friends and relatives throughout the U.S., then Chile, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Jerusalem.
They finally settled in Australia near their daughter, Collette. Les & Teresa began travelling around Australia, stopping at local nursing homes, making new "Aussie" friends and performing polka dances for the residents. Ater Teresa passed away in 1991, Lester began spending part of the year in the U.S., again visiting his family and friends, and going back to Australia during the U.S. winter.
After a successful battle with cancer in 1993, Lester had a recurrence in 2000 and returned to Australia to continue his treatment.
He was cared for at home by daughter Collette and family. The family wishes to thank Nathalia Palliative Care Unit for all their support and their generous gifts of excellent attention adn time. Mass will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001 at ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Nathalia, Victoria, Australia.
A memorial service for family and friends in the U.S. will be held at a later date.
Gravesite Details
1 Aug 2001 is the interment date
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