Lester S. Coffman 97, of Troy

Lester S. Coffman, 97, a lifelong resident of Troy died Wednesday March 1, 2012, at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital from natural causes.

He was born Jan. 30, 1915, in Troy, Mont., to Jacob and Nora Cripe Coffman. He grew up and attended school in Troy and graduated from Troy High School with the class of 1933.

Lester enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Aug. 15, 1933, and served until he was honorably discharged on June 21, 1934.

Lester married Alice Chase on June 15, 1939.

After their marriage they moved to Pullman, Wash., where Lester graduated with industrial arts and education degrees from Washington State College in 1941.

As a member of the WAU boxing team, Lester was the Pacific Coast Boxing Champion in 1939, 1940 and 1941.

In 1939 and 1940, Lester took second place at the NCAA Boxing Tournament in the welterweight division.

When war broke out Lester again enlisted in the Navy and served his country as a Seabee until 1945.

From 1951 to 1976, he owned and operated Coffman’s Sporting Goods and Highway Market in Troy. During that time Lester held various jobs and positions including two years as a game warden for Montana Fish and Game.

In 1959, he graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and he was a deputy sheriff in Troy and also the city’s chief of police for five years.

Lester was active in several organizations and was president of the Kootenai Valley Shrine club in Libby, exalted ruler of the Libby Elks Club, governor of the Troy Moose Lodge, Master of the Troy Lodge and high priest of the Libby Chapter of the Masons. Lester married Mona Case on Feb. 18, 1995 in Troy.

He was an avid bowler and golfer.

Lester’s two wives, Alice and Mona, two sisters Irene & Margaret preceded him in death.

Survivors include his brother Herb Coffman of San Leandro, Calif.; sister Florence Larson and husband Ove of Troy; nieces and nephews Charlie Decker and wife Yvonne, Esther Parker and husband Mike, Mark Decker and wife Debbie all of Libby; Marie Hanson and husband Skip of Columbia Falls; Lois Gillam and husband Alan of Martin City, Mont.; Jack Coffman of California; Annette Coffman of California; Barbi Bain & husband Frank of Oregon; Keith Kenelty of Libby.

Services will be held at a later date. Local arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby.