Funeral services for Lester Biesterfeld, 88, of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister will officiate. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Wells. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Lester died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Community.

Lester Milton Biesterfeld was born on Oct. 10, 1925, to Henry Herman and Edna (Degner) Biesterfeld in Foster Township. Lester grew up and attended school in Wells. On Dec. 4, 1945, Lester was united in marriage to Ione Wegner at the Hartland Lutheran Church. Together they farmed for many years outside of Wells. Lester and Ione retired from farming in 1989 and moved to Albert Lea. Even though he was retired, Lester remained interested in farming and always enjoyed going for rides to check on crops and field work. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, gardening, traveling, wintering in Arizona, family events and celebrating birthdays and holidays. Lester was a quiet, faithful man and will be missed by his family and friends greatly.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Ione, of Albert Lea; daughters Rebecca (Paul) Strand of Merrill, Wis., and Kristine (Dean) Skalicky of Silver Bay; sons Leslie (Patty) Biesterfeld of Mankato and Kurt Biesterfeld of Albert Lea; grandchildren Kimberly (Jeremy) Akey, Kari Strand, Karen (John) Sidorowicz, Brittney (Josh) Wisted, Audra (Matthew) Carson, Ana Biesterfeld, Troy (Laura) Biesterfeld and Trisha Biesterfeld (fiancé Bob Iverson); great-grandchildren Connor and Natalie Akey, Hunter and Madden Sidorowicz, Matthew Skalicky, Naomi and Abigail Wisted, Jake Carson, Juddson Schmiesing and Lucy Biesterfeld; sisters LaDonna Brandt, Jean (William) Braun and Joyce (Bert) Salisbury; brother-in-law, Robert (Lois) Wegner; and sister-in-law, Mary Wegner.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Edna Biesterfeld; father and mother-in-law Gustav and Sophia Wegner; and sisters Myrtice Yost and Carolee Stenzel.