Lester Louis Kolbeck

Lester Louis Kolbeck, 82, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2015 at Verde Valley Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Les was born on May 10, 1933 to Frank G. and Vera Kolbeck at Salem, South Dakota. He and Martha Joyce Rayman were married in St. Mary\u0027s Catholic Church at Salem on August 17, 1959. Their first years were spent farming and then a move to Rapid City, SD where he was employed in construction for a time and then to State employment moving to Custer State Park. He and Joyce also owned and operated a taxidermy business in Rapid City for several years. In 1970 he became a firefighter with the City of Rapid City. He retired in 1985 from the department and in 1986 they moved to Cottonwood, AZ. He volunteered with the local schools at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary and with the Mingus Union High School marching band and was employed at Blazin\u0027 M Ranch as a cook for three years. Preceding him in death were his parents and one brother Lyle. He is survived by his wife Joyce of 56 years; three daughters: Kimberly (Richard) Palu of Black Hawk, SD, Kathryn Blume of Chino Valley, AZ and Karmyn Kolbeck of Cottonwood; two sons: Dr. Kenneth Kolbeck (Jacki) of Portland, OR and Dr. Karl Kolbeck (Brandi) of Wayne, NE; seven granddaughters: Nicolette (Luke Archer, Amanda, Ashley and Samantha Palu, Myranda Blume, Madison and Khloe Kolbeck and one grandson Matthew Palu; his sister Joyce (Fred) Reneau of Aurora, CO and two sister-in-laws Dorothy Garvis and Karen Rayman. Services are scheduled for Friday, November 20 at 5:00pm at Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood with the visitation before from 4:00pm-5:00pm. Memorial donations may be made to the Immaculate Conception Building Fund, 700 N Bill Gray Rd, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com