Lester N. Risch, age 89, a longtime resident of Elkton, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, April 6, 2006, at Riverview Manor in Flandreau, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, April 10, 2006, at the United Parish of Elkton, with interment in the Elkton City Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. Sunday at Eidsness-Zink Funeral Chapel in Elkton. Lester was born April 29, 1916 on a farm seven miles north of Elkton South Dakota to Christian and Anna (Balzer) Risch. He attended the rural school at District 47 in Richland Township and was a graduate of Elkton High School in 1935. He continued his education at South Dakota State University for a short time. He married Lily Grace Erickson on March 22, 1941, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and they began a life together in Elkton that would span over 50 years. Lester and Lily were members of and active in the United Parish Church in Elkton during their marriage and until Lester's death. After their marriage, Lester worked at the Elkton Motor Co. as a mechanic for 31 years until it closed in 1974. He finished his career working for Schaffer Brothers John Deere in Elkton until his retirement in 1981 at the age of 65. Until his retirement, Lester was an active member of the Elkton Volunteer Fire Department for over 40 years. He was also active in sports playing baseball on the "town team" in his younger years and bowling for many years on the Myers Standard Service team in the Monday night league. Later years, nearing and after retirement, golf was big leisure activity in his life and for the last few years miniature golf while at his winter home in Texas. He enjoyed playing cribbage, pinochle, and pepper. Survivors include a special friend, Illa Berg, of Flandreau, South Dakota; his sons, Roger (Karen) of Portland, Oregon, David (Judy) of Eau Clair, Wisconsin, Gene (Wanda) of South Haven, Minnesota, Dale of Ramsey, Minnesota, Keith of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; daughters Patricia Koerner (Gale) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota and Susan Kurtz (Glen) of New Richmond, Wisconsin; 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Murray (Virginia) of San Diego, California; four sisters, Esther Schroeder (twin) of Wayzata, Minnesota, Eleanor Risch of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Marlene Petersen (Eldon) of Sartell, Minnesota and Carol Jensen (Cliff) of Elkton, South Dakota. Lester was preceded in death by his wife, Lily, in 1994; his parents, Christian and Anna Risch; three brothers, Russell, Emery, Marvin, and one sister Elva Olmstead.