LARNED — After a long life, Lester Lee Chilcott passed away on 23 Dec. 2024 in Larned, Kan. He was 95 years old. Les was born to Harold and Cleo Chilcott on 15 March 1929 in Mankato, Kan. He attended Mankato High School and left home at the age of 17 to join the Navy in California. He was always proud to wear his Navy hat and enjoyed talking with strangers when he found it generated conversation.
Les was the oldest of three brothers. He helped on the family ranch in Mankato while growing up and began a lifelong enjoyment of hunting. He married first at the age of 21 and he and his wife had two children. Later he remarried. Les worked for Peoples Lumber for many years in Oxnard, Calif. before returning to Mankato, Kan. to help manage the family ranch when his father passed away.
When Les returned to his home town of Mankato, Kan. he quickly rejoined the community. Besides keeping cattle and managing the ranch he worked for many years as a school bus driver for Mankato Schools. For a period of time he had a restaurant in town. He was active in the local Lions Club and served for a time as its president. He enjoyed participating in the bowling league.
Les found many ways to give back to his community which included achieving several milestones of blood donation through American Red Cross blood drives.
He was an avid reader. He loved to tell jokes. The kids on the school bus he drove heard many of his “Dad” type stories.
Les and wife Sara moved from Mankato to Larned, Kan. later in life and he lived at home until the age of 94 when it became necessary for him to receive extra living assistance at Diversicare of Larned. While living in Larned Les enjoyed the spiritual assistance and friendship of pastor Randy Kuhn and frequently attended services at Larned Independent Baptist Church. The
Welcome Inn Senior Center in town was a great source of companionship to him.
Les was preceded in death by daughter Jennifer Pedersen. He is survived by wife Sara Chilcott of Larned, Kan.; son Jeff Chilcott and daughter in-law Susan and their son Kevin; son-in-law Richard Pedersen; granddaughter Michelle Mathews and husband Brandon and their daughter Jennifer; brothers William (Bill) Chilcott and Robert Chilcott; many nieces and nephews.
At Les’s request no services were conducted or have been planned. Beckwith Mortuary of Larned, KS were entrusted with arrangements. Les has been laid to rest at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mankato, Kan.
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 8, 2025
