Lester "Les" Lyng

On August 8th, 2009, Lester (Les) Johan Lyng grabbed God's hand and was gently guided into heaven at 10:55 a.m. He began his life on August 3rd, 1914 at 1:30 a.m., and spent 95 years living a life that made him an iconic interest to his many friends and family. His parents, both Norwegian immigrants, started their family in Tacoma, WA, but eventually ventured into farming near the town of Grandview. Les' memories of this time remained vivid until the day he died. He was a walking storybook, and showed great pride in having the privilege of watching the world transform "from horse and buggy to rocket ships."
Les' life held diverse and relished experiences. He was a logger in Oregon, a miner in northern Idaho, a Forest Service lineman and lookout in Seeley Lake, as well as a Navy sailor in WWII. While in the Pacific, aboard the USS Luna, he served as an electrician's mate specializing in gyro compass. When the war ended, this training allowed him to pursue the electrical trade first as the owner of Northern Electric in Spokane, next as a partner of G&R Electric, then ultimately as the founding owner of Double L Electric in Hamilton, a business he ran with his son, Scott, until retiring in the late 90's. In the midst of these endeavors, he served as an officer on the Hamilton police department in the late 60's and built the reputable gunsmithing and reloading business, Bitterroot Firearms. His love of guns and fervent belief in the right to bear arms truly defined his persona. His dining room table regularly sat friends and clients who sought out his knowledge on guns, and also his life stories. These stories encompassed not only past experiences, but recent ones, as well. He stayed as active as his body would allow still hunting, reloading and chopping wood (albeit with an electric chainsaw) until his last days here. He truly was a man's man, with a gentle core; the energy and charisma he put into this world is not replaceable and will be desperately missed.
Les had 3 siblings, Margaret (deceased), Esther (deceased), and Thelma Ballatore in Tacoma. He also was the father to four children, Virginia Marabetta in Seattle, Scott Lyng of Hamilton, Joell Hamby in San Francisco, and Alana Hughes in Missoula. These children expanded his family to include 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. In fact, within his lifetime, he witnessed the span of five generations. However, his forty-six year marriage to Ronelle Lyng was what he most cherished. Their love for one another was not only apparent to their friends and family, but was also routinely acknowledged by strangers and acquaintances. Their spry hand-holding and loving eye-contact conveyed a kindness and respectfulness rarely seen. This relationship held Les here, perhaps longer than he was supposed to stay; but in the end he went to God through Jesus Christ. We look forward to the day we will once again be in Les' presence. He was a good and fair husband, father, grandfather, friend and man.