Richard D. Lesh, BSI ("The Fatal Battle of Maiwand") has crossed over the Reichenbach. He was a holder of the BSI's prestigious Two-Shilling Award, given for service above and beyond the norm to the Irregulars, and was a Charter Member of the Master's Masons. Hailing from Fort Collins, CO his obituary is available from The Coloradan and is reproduced here:
Richard D. Lesh passed away Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at Centre Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Center following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born May 3, 1927, in Grand Island, Neb., to Ethel Darling and Charles Wesley Lesh.
He grew up in Omaha and graduated from Benson High School in 1945. Following graduation from the University of Denver, he married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn White, on June 19, 1949. They lived in Denver while he completed his master's degree at the University of Denver, and he accepted a position as an art instructor at Wayne State College in Nebraska in 1951. Together, they raised five children in Wayne, until he retired to Fort Collins in 1982.
He was a Master Mason, Scottish Rite Mason, a member of El Jebel Shrine and a Jester. He was also an active member of the Baker Street Irregulars, an international Sherlock Holmes Society. He was a member and former president of the Nebraska Arts Council and had his paintings exhibited throughout the Midwest.
Richard is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn; his children, Linda (Dan) Payton of Fort Collins, Dr. Kurt (Rosa Mery) Lesh of Colorado Springs; Lisa (David) Bey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Lori (Alfred) Willett of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Kipp Lesh and partner Hallee Fish of Longmont; his sister, Darlene (Terry) Reynolds of Omaha; and nine grandchildren, Harrison, Emma, Ross and Julia Payton of Fort Collins, Kevin and Jennifer Lesh of Colorado Springs, and Emily Bey and Amy and Clayton Willett of Cedar Rapids.
A private family service is planned. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Shrine Children's Hospital in care of Goes Funeral Care.
