Lester V. Molenaar April 15, 1918 – Nov. 15, 2009

WILLMAR — Lester Vernon Molenaar, 91, of Willmar died Nov. 15 at Rice Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

The service is at 11 a.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church in Willmar. There will be no reviewal or visitation. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and Cremation Service

Memorials may be directed to the Lester Molenaar Memorial Fund, c/o Ridgewater College Foundation, P.O. Box 1097, Willmar, Minn.,  56201.

He was born April 15, 1918, to Peter and Josephine Molenaar and grew up on a farm near Renville. He attended country school up to the ninth grade, part of one year in high school and one year at Hamline University. From 1937 to 1955, he farmed 400 acres two miles east of Blomkest with his wife and their family.

He had an interest in electricity and astronomy, and constructed a 600-watt amateur radio station and computer equipment.

He held a first class commercial radio license and a private pilot’s license. During World War II, he helped run KWLM in addition to farm work.

After farming for 19 years, he went into retail business, a John Deere Implement dealership, followed by manufacturing toys and advertising specialties at Molenaar Inc. The last venture was the most successful and developed into a company with more than 130 employees. The company was sold in 2007 but continues operation as Molenaar LLC. 

An inventor, he built a plastics-injection molding press after touring a plastics company, a corn dryer and Dynamatic, a device to measure the horsepower of tractors from the power takeoff.

He is survived by his wife: Isabell; daughter: Mari (and Warren) Fioretti; sons: Greg (and Rui) and Steve (and Jennifer); many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers: Robert and Allan; and stepchildren: Myrna (and Glen) Miller, Myron (and JoAnn) Johnson and Howard (and Julie) Johnson.

Tags: obituaries

Sign the guestbook

Comments posted on this page do not reflect opinions of Forum Communications Company. Forum Communications Company does not endorse and is not responsible for any statement, opinion, advice given or made. All replies are subject to approval and must follow Forum Communications Company guidelines concerning statements of libel, personal attacks or defamation of character. Replies in the "Talk About It" section that criticize a person by name may not be posted, unless that person is openly involved in a public issue. Comments written in all capital letters or bold print will not be considered for inclusion in the forum.

Terms & Conditions