Lester C.O. Johnson

Funeral Services for Lester C.O. Johnson will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Kenton Birtell officiating.  Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege, Nebraska.

Due to health concerns, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic; current CDC and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for Faith-Based Services will be followed. The Johnson family sincerely encourages each person to make their decision whether to attend Lester's services based on the best interest of your health, and that of your community. The funeral service for Lester will be live-streamed via the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook Page. ( https://www.facebook.com/Mt-Calvary-Lutheran-Church-109006532511492 )

Lester C.O. Johnson, 91 years of age, of Holdrege, (formerly of Wilcox, Nebraska) passed away on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.  Lester was born on August 25, 1928, on the family farm north of Holdrege in Phelps County, Nebraska.  The only child to Oscar A. and Alvera J. (Anderson) Johnson. He received his primary education from rural schools north of Holdrege and then attended Holdrege High School, where he graduated with the class of 1945.

On February 11, 1951, he was united in marriage to Marfay L. Schubert, at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Wilcox and to this union two sons were born: Richard and Steven. The family made their home on a farm in rural Wilcox, where Lester owned and operated the family trucking business, C.O. and S. Inc.  He loved to drive semis and did so, for over 60 years. Lester and Marfay also owned and operated M & L Market grocery store from 1963 to 1978 in Wilcox, and farmed in Phelps and Kearney Counties, until their retirement.  In April of 2019, the couple began to make their home at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.

At a young age, Lester accepted the Lord as his Savior and was confirmed at the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church in rural Holdrege in 1938.  In the summer of 1951, he was baptized at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, where he remained a faithful member until his passing.  He was also a member of the Wilcox Town Board, the Wilcox Lions Club, the Wilcox Chamber of Commerce, and also served on the R-6 School Board for numerous years.

Lester and Marfay enjoyed wintering in Texas and traveling the country in the RV throughout their retirement years.  He enjoyed family holidays, and attending all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren's activities.

Besides his parents; he was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law:  William and Clara Schubert; sister-in-law, Addaline Lippstreu and her husband, Lloyd; and brothers-in-law:  Delton Schubert and Bill Bendorf.

Lester leaves to celebrate his life; his wife of 69 years, Marfay Johnson of Holdrege; two sons: Richard Johnson and his wife, Connie of Ogallala, Nebraska; and Steven Johnson and his wife, Gail of Wilcox; five grandchildren: Jeremiah Johnson and his wife, Heather of Wilcox; Jeffrey Johnson and his wife, Shaina of Wilcox; Jennifer Beemer and her husband, Geoffrey of Imperial, Nebraska; Joshua Johnson and his wife, Kari of Fort Collins, Colorado; and Jordan Johnson of Lexington, Nebraska; eight great-grandchildren:  Chase and Makayla Johnson; Micah, Allegra, and Faith Johnson; and Avery, Emerson, and Grayson Beemer; two sisters-in-law: Evelyn Bendorf of Holdrege; and Joan Schubert-Dreher and her husband, Wesley Dreher of Arvada, Colorado; along with many extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 18, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Lester's honor, and kindly suggested to the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege; or the Wilcox Fire and Rescue.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.