Lester Kruta

Lester Miles Kruta, 88, of Lake Shore, died at his home on August 23, 2016. Services for Lester will be 1:00 PM, Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (200 Buffalo Hills Lane, Brainerd)

Born May 29, 1929 in a section house on the Soo Lin Railroad in Calio, ND, Lester was the son of Miles and Elizabeth (Hurtel) Kruta. Les started working at 11 and when 15 he began working with his dad on the track crew. During the Korean Conflict, Les used the skills he learned as a telegraph operator to serve his county in the US Army. After the war, Lester began a 60-year career in construction. He loving built and restored many homes - he was an incredible craftsman. Les liked to travel and it was on one of his trips that he met Shirley Russom. She became the love of his life and they married in 1996. From Shirley, Les inherited her children and grandchildren. Les loved being a grandpa and would bake cookies, carve pumpkins and attend many games, graduations and dances with his grandchildren. His lifelong love of trains led he and Shirley to purchase an 1880 Soo Line Caboose, which the restored to perfection over 5 ½ years.

Les loved to fish, enjoyed writing and had many articles published, was considered a historian of the area, but most of all Les was a kind, caring, generous man with loving heart that will be missed by many.

Lester is survived by his wife, Shirley; her children, Sissie (John), George (Jane), Billie (Gary), Cheryle (Alberto), Barbara (Darryl) and Laurn; 19 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; siblings, Bob (Sally), Stanley (Alice), Roger (Christine), and Betty; many nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.