Lester E. Gabrielson, age 90, of Britt, Iowa and formerly of Belmond, Iowa died Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.
     Funeral services for Lester E. Gabrielson were held Thursday May 1, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond. The Pastor Troy Pflibsen officiated. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.
    Lester Ervin, the son of Gabriel and Anna Marie (Sunde) Gabrielson, was born July 9, 1917, on a farm near St. Olaf, near Belmond.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.  Lester attended school in Belmond, graduating from Belmond High School in 1935.
     Lester married Florence B. Mack on Aug. 29, 1942 at Storm Lake, Iowa.  They became the proud parents of five children.
     Lester was a very hard worker.  He farmed, drove school bus, operated a bulk tank truck for Hancock County Oil, and worked for Central Soya.  As an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond, Lester served on numerous boards and was a member of the Sons of Norway.   Lester enjoyed fishing, working outside, gardening, and he was well known as a good cook.  He was also known as a very good dancer.  Florence died in 1979, and Lester retired from Central Soya in 1981.  He then moved to Des Moines where he was employed by Hertz Rentals.   Lester enjoyed dancing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and the Val Aire Ballroom in Des Moines.
     Lester moved back to Britt where he resided until he moved to the Leinbach Apartments in Belmond for three years.  He moved to the Westview Care Center in Britt in 2006.
     Lester is survived by his children, Pamela (Donald) VanLaningham of Chandler, Az., Gayle (Louis) Smidt of Britt, Neil (Kathleen) Gabrielson of Britt, Mack (Cindy) Gabrielson of Clear Lake, Faye (Karen Fickenwirth) of Seattle, Wash.; special companion, Palma Quandahl; grandchildren, Joy (Kent) Venton, Julie (Sonny) Wehrer, Jeffrey (Annette) Smidt, Sarah (Jayson) Keiper, Kimberly Smidt, Kurt (Christa) Gabrielson, Karen (Chris) Solien, Lori  (Travis) Clendenen, Lisa (Dr. Christopher) VandeLune, Bonnie (Jay) Hiscocks, Jennifer (Dr. Steven) Tenold, Laurie (Robert) McKenna, Dr. Daniel (Lyndi) Gabrielson, Jay (Elizabeth) LeFevre, and Joshua (Lauren) Daniels; 30 great-grandchildren (three on the way); sister, Ruby Boller of Belmond; sister-in-law, Marion Gabrielson of Belmond; numerous nieces and nephews.
     Lester is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Florence; sisters and spouses, Burley, Liz (George Waddington), Beulah (Ed Reasoner), and Ruth (Wes Boller); brothers and spouses, Tolford (Agnes), Gerhard, Norman (Marian, Alta), and  Elmer (Shirley);  and brother-in-law, Kenny Boller.