Lester C. Heeringa passed away at South Shore Care Center on Friday, September 7, 2018, where he had been a patient since November 6, 2017. Lester (known as “Les” by his family and friends) was born on November 23, 1925 at Hull, Iowa, to Peter and Bertha (Tuinstra) Heeringa. Les attended schools in Iowa until his parents moved to a family farm near Brewster, MN. He then attended Okabena High School and graduated in 1944.
The following year Les was drafted into the U.S. Army, training as a paratrooper and spending time in service in France toward the end of World War II.
On February 24, 1948 he was married to Lois J. Zevenbergen and they made their home on a farm near Reading. In 2005 he retired and they moved to Worthington.
Les enjoyed traveling to both the east and west coasts to visit family, and learning to play golf. He also enjoyed square dancing with the “Turkey Trotters” square dance club and going to Crailsheim, Germany where their daughter, Deborah, had spent a year as an exchange student. That same year they hosted Dieter Wolfarth from Crailsheim in their home for a short time.
Les was preceded in death by his father and mother and two brothers, Kenneth and James. He is survived by his sister Patricia Eakin of Aurora, CO and her son, Mark, and his children and grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife Lois; sons, Randall (Charlene) of Worthington, Loren (Kristen) of Eden Prairie, MN and Brian (Shirley) of Lake Havasu City, AZ; daughters, Linda Henle of Worthington and Deborah (Jeffrey) Metzmaker of Rutland, MA; twelve grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Burial of cremains will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., at the Worthington Cemetery. Visitation with the family will follow at 10:00 a.m., at the Christian Reformed Church in Worthington, MN, with a memorial service to be at 11:00 a.m. Pastor LeRoy Christoffels will officiate. A luncheon will follow the service.
Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association or the donor’s choice.
Benson Funeral Home of Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.
Previous Events
Graveside
22
Sep
Nobles St
Worthington, MN 56187
Visitation
22
Sep
1100 1st Ave SW
Worthington, MN 56187
Service
22
Sep
1100 1st Ave SW
Worthington, MN 56187
Cemetery Details
Location
Nobles St
Worthington, MN 56187
