Lester Hodgson

Longtime husband, father, grandfather, friend, cattleman and rancher, Lester Arthur Hodgson, passed away March 7, 2006, in Brush. He was 89 years old. Lester was born to Earl and Lillie Hodgson on Oct. 23, 1916, in Boulder. He married Cleora Margaret Privett in Boulder on Sept. 10, 1939, shortly before leaving to serve in the Navy during World War II. Lester and Cleora raised sheep and a few cattle in those early years. He worked for the Watts Hardy Dairy for 16 years at the same time. In 1960, the Hodgsons moved to Larimer County where Lester worked for CDOT for 12 years. Lester continued to ranch and raise cattle until health problems forced him to move to Eben Ezer Care Center in Brush in 1999. During his years in the Fort Collins area, he worked for the old Farmer and Rancher Auction and later Centennial Livestock. After retiring for a year or so, he missed the people and excitement. He began working for Producers in Greeley on sale day where he remained for six more years. Lester made sure his children got started in the cattle business too, helping them to buy heifer calves from his herd to carry on his legacy. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Cleora of Brush. All of Lester's siblings survive him, brother, Albert of Livermore and sister, Alberta of Boulder, both 91, and younger sister, Mildred, 82, also of Boulder. Also surviving are daughter, Pamela Trost and husband, Ken, of Rupert, Idaho; and son, Gary and wife, Sue, of Brush. Lester has nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel with interment to follow at Grandview Cemetery with military honors by the Fort Collins All Veterans Honor Guard. Contributions may be made to the Eben Ezer Care Center or Parkinson's Foundation in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.