Lester Stanford Leighton, the son of Charles Arthur & Sena Katherine (Meier) Leighton was born on the family farm,  June 27,1923 southwest of Griswold,  IA.  Lester died March 5, 2021 at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold, IA. at the age of: 97 years, 8 months and 8 days.

Lester attended country grade school in the "Sands Hill" area southwest of Griswold, prior to attending Griswold High School, where he played football.  Growing up, Lester and his siblings had many responsibilities & various experiences around the family farm.

He was always willing to share a story or two or three when asked.  This is where his love for farming began!   Lester met Nova Bates, his future wife, one Saturday night in Griswold through a friend 'Dean' which was Nova's brother.  When asked what attracted him to her, he stated—'she was very sweet!'  They were united in marriage on September 22nd, 1943 at the Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, IA.  They moved to the family farm, making a commitment to the 'farm life', that he had grown to love.

Lester stated that early on, his father-in-law, gave him a team of horses to use to feed hogs & anything else around the farm.  He started farming with a 1930's F20-Farmall tractor and soon saw the 'light'…..purchasing a 1935 John Deere A tractor.  He never looked back!

John Deere was the way to go!!  He also purchased a 2 row Lister Planter, which he hooked up to that John Deere. He was a 'typical farmer', back then, rising before dawn, and working late into the evening, providing for his family.  He raised corn and bean crops;  alfalfa hay and oats.  He raised hogs and cattle and even milked cows. He stated that he and Nova would separate the cream from the milk, selling the cream on a regular basis. He also stated that they received 15 laying hens from his parents, when they were first married. They sold a portion of those eggs as well.

Lester has had a few 'hair raising' experiences while on the farm. One was when he was tossed up and down in a stock trailer by a 1400# steer like a 'rag' doll, while loading cattle to go to Denison. The steer finally dropped him, stepped over him, and walked out of the trailer.   Lester was unscathed—no broken bones and he was still alive!!  Another experience, was when he was checking a 'tile line' in the creek.  He was using a device called a 'stick', checking the water depth and lost his balance, when the stick went in further than he'd planned. He fell head over heels into the frigid water, hitting his head, having to get his bearings while under water,  and then swimming to the side, pulling himself up the bank by hanging onto weeds.  One 'tough' guy!!

Another love of Lester's was that of working with his caterpillar—building terraces, fixing ditches, and removing trees—'digging in the dirt'!!  He prided himself with building his terraces accurately and passing inspections with flying colors.

He always loved Nova's 'home cooking'!  Favorites of his, included her 2 crust raisin pie, her apple pie, her 'grease soaking' doughnuts(great for dipping into coffee), anything chocolate, her 'Buns' with her strawberry jam and frankly, anything else she wanted to cook and bake for him.  A favorite meal out would be Cat fish, Shrimp or Chicken strips.  He loved  Mountain Dew, DQ Blizzards, Licorice, Hershey Chocolate Bars and Keebler Sandies Cookies.  He loved spending time with family. When he knew the grandkids were coming, he always had the Honda 50 motorcycle ready for them to ride or would take them for rides on the mower.  They all had rides in the caterpillar as well, while he was in the field.

The grandkids recall his jokes, his laughs, his fried eggs  and shredded wheat cereal in the morning, ice cream at night, and popcorn in his popcorn bowl.  ALWAYS OVERALLS with his Flip phone in one pocket and his phone number list in another pocket.

He and Nova enjoyed going to dances on an occasional Saturday night.  They also participated in local 'card parties'. Lester and Nova also enjoyed trips to: Europe, New York, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Alaska and the Bahamas.

Lester was awarded the Pottawattamie County Cattle Producer of the year in 1997. Among other duties in the past, he served on the Griswold Community School Board.  He and Nova attended the Griswold United Methodist Church.

Lester was a 'good man'!!  He is leaving us all with impressions of his hard work ethic, his integrity, his determination, his faith, and his honesty.  We have all been blessed with his presence.  "Job well done"!!

Lester is preceded in death by his wife, Nova, of 77 years, on November 2, 2020; his daughter, Colleen in 1987, his brothers: Everett, Wilbur, Harold and Donald;  his sisters: Dorothy, Velma, and Shirley.

He is survived by his children: Bryce(Linda) of Griswold, IA., and Kristi(Jamie) of Tennant, IA.;  his grandchildren:  Gary(Stacie) Leighton,  Barbara(Doug) Hays,  Brent(Cheryl) Leighton;  Jessica(Derek) Woellhof, Angela(Ryan) Avis, Dr. Joshua(Jodi) Hockett;  his great grandchildren: Kaidnce, Emerson, Ella, Finley, Axel, Averi, Landon, Liam, Kori, Garrett(SheAnna), Gavin, Kyler, Gaige, Erin(Nye), Courtney, Brooke, Leah(Darek), Anthony and Joseph; and his sisters-in-law Alice and Jane Leighton.

Funeral services will be Monday, March 15, 2021 at 10:30 AM, at the Griswold United Methodist Church.  An open visitation will be Sunday at the Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold from noon until 6:00 PM, family will not be present.  Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family.