Lester Bellas, loved by many, passed away in his home in Riverton, Wyoming at age 90 on October 23, 2024. By his request, there will not be a memorial service. Lester will be buried next to his beloved wife Mary in the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery, Evansville, Wyoming.
Lester was born November 28, 1933 in Santa Monica, California to Estella Bellas. He considered his step father, Carl Hughes his father, calling him “Old Man” and stating he was more of a real father to him than anyone else. He was raised by hardworking parents, a very loving Mother, and learned many things from them. He attended elementary school in Lone Pine, California before attending the Stewart Indian School outside Carson City, Nevada. In high school, he returned to Lone Pine where he was active in football, basketball and cross-country.
He spent his younger years working and competing in rodeos where he won several bronc riding competitions. He briefly served as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Army. He loved his life in the army and was proud to serve, “Home of the free because of the brave.” Lester married his wife Doreen in the early 1960s and they had two daughters, Laurie and Leslie.
Lester was proud of his time working as a roughneck but worked many other laborer jobs in construction and for the Union Carbide mining company. He moved to Wyoming in the 1970s and married his wife, Mary. They lived in Riverton until Mary passed away in 1994.
Lester as honored to be an organ donor.
When he moved to Wyoming, he was adopted by the Harris family and was very proud of being a part of their family. They helped him learn to live with strong spiritual beliefs in traditional American Indian Ways. He believed in God, (Grandfather) and those wonderful working spirits.
He was quick to laugh and always had a story to tell. Even when separated by distance, he always has been and always will be in the hearts and minds of the family and friends that loved him.
Lester is survived by his daughters, Laurie and Leslie; son-in-law, David; granddaughters, Glenna and Amber; great-granddaughters, J'adore Gianna and J’aime Giovanna; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Lester request in lieu of flowers or memorials, “please do an act of kindness for someone.”
On-line condolences for Lester may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Arrangements under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments.