Ralph Olin Lester, 70, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, in St. James Healthcare.

      Ralph was born on June 10, 1939, in Macon, Ga., to Edward and Fanny (Chastain) Lester.

      The son of a sharecropper, Ralph was educated in various schools in Georgia before the family moved to Montana in February 1949.   He attended Ramsay School and Webster Garfield before graduating from Butte High School in 1957.

      He worked as a warehouseman for various grocery stores before becoming employed by the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. at the Anaconda smelter.   He was also employed by Atlantic Richfield and Montana Resources.

      Skilled with his hands, Ralph was a talented woodworker and enjoyed doing household remodeling projects.   When not working around the house, he enjoyed traveling, especially to Nevada.   He was a member of the Anaconda Elks Lodge, No. 239.

      Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers; and one sister.

      He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Jackie (Brulla) Lester;   his daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Martin Vook;   his son, Dale Lester;   four grandchildren;   three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Duggan Dolan Mortuary Chapel.   Interment of ashes will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Crackerville.

      Memorials are preferred to the charity of the donor’s choice.