“When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them but to live with the love they left behind. “
8 years have now passed, Les. While this day brings great sadness, we are choosing to remember and celebrate a life well lived. Rest in peace Les. 

Dad....where do I begin? I miss you each and every day more and more. To those that says time makes it easier...is lying! Today, we ate a donut in your memory and I think I am following in your footsteps as coffee seems to be the only liquid I consume in one day. I remember telling him that he needed to drink water and not just coffee and he would just respond and say...coffee has water in it! haha My dad was a one of a kind guy...I never even realized how patient of a man he was until I am now going through parenting. Especially with Brayson at some point(not sure when!) learning to drive I will definitely have to channel my dad's patience! haha! I was just telling the boys how when I was learning to drive, he would sometimes drive 5-10 miles under the speed limit and say....just because it says 35 doesn't mean you need to go 35! haha! The boys are so amazing...I know you would be so proud of both of them and I know you are keeping an eye on them. Mom is talking about you more and telling more stories and still picking herself up everyday but still misses you more than words can say. You are missed by everyone in your life. We got out your tackle box for fishing last week and Tavin and I had some fun looking through it. Someday he is hoping he can use your fishing poles! You and Brayson would have so much history to talk about...the kid loves it! Kellan is doing fantastic at work and I know you would be so proud of him.  We are loving our new home and we are finally getting the hot tub hooked up! We miss your sometimes dry sense of humor, your laugh, your hugs, your seriousness, your patience and just your presence here on earth. I love you to the moon and back! So, as soon school starts again soon and I go back to work, I always remember how you would tell me how happy your were that I was staying at home and that a school job would be perfect. I'm doing ok, dad, moving on each day as we are supposed to, but still missing you fiercely. I love you and miss you and feel blessed that I get to call you my dad.

6 years have passed, Les, and not a day goes by that you aren’t remembered and missed.  Your family is still healing from their loss, but you can be so proud of who they are. Lora has done her best to move on without you, but we still see her pain and sorrow  We do our best to keep her moving forward and to go on adventures you would be sure to have enjoyed. Every time we take a picture we laugh about your many camera mishaps and constant search for an “STD” card for your camera. Your girls Rianna and Marissa are doing well, strong and confident, and both have your sense of humor and spirit. Lanis and Kellan are fantastic parents to your grand boys, which I’m sure you would agree, are turning out to be fine young men. You have left quite a legacy and just know that you are still remembered and missed every day. 

Les
I was reading through all your posts this morning with tears in my eyes. Sometimes I still feel like you are just on a trip and will be home soon.
We all miss that smile and laugh. Gary recently sent us a photo of all the brothers and sisters taken last fall and photo shopped your picture in it. Was a great picture of all of us and I think one you would have liked a lot.

And you can be so proud of all of your family. It's been a struggle for them but everyday trying to heal. You are missed deeply by all. But one thing you can be assured of is that you live on in everyone's hearts and never are forgotten. 

Love and miss you,❤️❤️
Your sis, Gail

Well, Father's day is tomorrow and for the third year in a row you are not here to celebrate with us. Even though it's been almost 3 years since you were taken from Earth, it still feels like it was yesterday. I don't think it gets easier, I think you only become more accustomed to life being changed. One day something happens and you are no longer the same person you were before. I try to think of the good times and of him smiling and us making memories with him which is what gets us through. This father's day will be spent looking at pictures and remembering. One of the hardest things is when we think he's been forgotten. Everyone else gets to move on with their life and we do not. Every single day we wake up and push ourselves to move ahead. Each day we wish he was still here with us. Each day is spent thinking about what he would be saying or looking like or what he smells like and what his voice sounds like. Please talk about him....please ask us questions about him....please tell us stories about him....that's what keeps him alive in our hearts. 
I know we made lots of memories with him but it will never feel like enough. He has missed so much since being gone and every moment of our lives now feels different, like there's a piece of it missing. Every happy moment we have becomes a little sad because he's not here to see it. 
For dad's birthday this year we wrote messages and sent up with balloons and we made the cake my mom always made him on his birthday. It was white whipped frosting with a chocolate cake. :) 
Dad, you would be so proud of Brayson and Tavin! Brayson is in taekwondo and is loving it! Tavin is playing baseball and is loving that too. I wish so badly you could watch them, but I do tell them that grandpa Les would be so very proud of them. We make sure to talk about you a lot so they don't forget either. 
Dad, Kellan had some really good things happy to him at his job this year....his company really didn't want to lose him and I know you would get that proud look on your face and be so very happy for him. You always knew how much he wanted to provide for his family. :)
So, for Father's day this year, I will get us coffees and we will celebrate Kellan being the amazing father he is to our babies and I will celebrate my daddy. We will drink coffee and we will eat my dad's favorite homemade donuts. :) I will think about him all day....I will smile when I look at our pictures and remember what he sounds like and what he smelled like and what it felt like to hug him. And I will cry because I miss him so much. But please always remember, you are never forgotten and I will forever keep you alive in my heart.

Dad....seems so surreal to be typing your name and sending you a message but you're not earth. It's been a year and a half and there are days that are still such a struggle to get through. We are settled in Fargo..miss mom tons and still have days of feeling guilty for leaving her there especially with you not there with her. The boys are cruising through 5th and 1st grade! Can you believe your oldest grandson will be in middle school next year? I know how very proud of your grandsons you were and are. Kellan is doing well in his new job and the work atmosphere is so different and has a short commute. I'm working at a school here. I remember how excited you were when I got the job in Arizona at the boys school. I'm trying to move along in each day although I want to talk to you...hug you...and see you. It's not fair that you're not here for all of this...I'm angry then sad then thankful then mad again...the circle never ends. I want you to know I think of you every single day...and we talk about you daily...we will never ever forget the memories we have with you and I love you so much and miss you more every single day. ❤

Dad, I'm a little late on writing. It was such a tough week...the week of the 1 year date that you left us. July 28...that night is still etched in my mind and always will be. All those emotions of a year ago creep back up....sadness...anger...regret...love....feeling like my world was flipped upside down. I look around today and not much has changed. I still miss you with every breath I take. It feels like it was yesterday and then other moments like it's been a lifetime. It's been so hard living without you. All these times I wish you were here. We are trying the best to go on with our lives and I am making sure to remember you by talking about you everyday and looking at your pictures. Just know that I will let you live on in those little boys of mine..who miss you oh so much. And I will take one day...one hour..one minute..one second and one breath at a time each day to get through. I love you so very much and miss you even more.

One more for today....I meant to type this last week but it was a bit chaotic. I wanted to tell you that your grandsons started school last week. Brayson started 5th grade and Tavin started 1st grade...you would be so proud of them....they have become quite the little men. They love you so much and miss you and I see you in both of them. You should be here for this. I love you daddy.

Well Les, it's been almost a year since you passed away. The hole you left in the hearts of your family and friends is still empty. However, you would be proud of how they are all growing and thriving as a tribute to you. Lanis, Kellan, Brayson and Tavin have completed their adventure here in Arizona, and are set to move back to Fargo soon. I am sure they have many reasons for leaving Phoenix, but one major reason is your absence. North Dakota draws them because it is home......a place they have fond memories of you and family. We will miss their energy, zest for life, but rest assured we will always be there for them as they continue life and the adventures that lay ahead of them. Your girls Rianna and Marissa continue to make you proud.......both forging ahead in a life without you, but both mirror your sense of humor, your willingness to help others, and to be a good, decent person. What more could a father ask?  Finally, Lora. She has struggled so without you by her side. My heart breaks when I see her sorrow and sadness.  I know that someday, she will come to realize that you are indeed still next to her, with her, guiding her, loving her, supporting her, but in the mean time, she struggles to find her new path in life without you. Rest assured Tim and I will always be there for her, supporting her in any way we can. You truly were the love of her life. 

The moon was full last night...............we couldn't help but think of you and all the adventures we shared while you were still with us...........and all of the pictures you took of the moon and your camera mishaps along the way. That made us smile, think good thoughts, treasure our good memories and will continue to keep your memory alive and well with your family and friends.

So, I haven't been very good at keeping up with tributes. I will try to do better...my dad deserves to be remembered at all those times. My last tribute was on valentines day. Since then we have celebrated his birthday which ironically ended up to be the same day as memorial day. The boys and I were in North Dakota with my sisters during his birthday so we enjoyed lemon cakes that he loved and we sent birthday balloons up to him in heaven. We shared tears together and tried to remember some happy moments. He never loved birthdays and thought every one of those days were just another day. I'm sure he would say the same today. Love you daddy.

Next is Father's Day. I knew this day would be hard but never thought it would be like that. Looking around at everyone's picture of them and their dad and wishing them happy fathers day made me feel angry, sad, jealous, all these emotions wrapped into one. Why do I not get to do that with my dad, why did he have to leave so soon? We had donuts that morning, for those of you that don't know, my dad loved donuts almost as much as his family. ;) I tried to remember some happy times with my dad but was masked by tears that day. My dad was a guy that always fixed our cars, always willing to do "girl" things. So many games that involved princesses, jewelry, pink and purple, and dolls. But that's what you do when you have daughters. He never missed an important date in our lives. He was always there to listen and give us love when we needed it. I could not have asked for a more wonderful father. I miss him every single second of everyday and daddy..you will always have a piece of my heart in heaven. Love you daddy.

I am writing a tribute to my daddy. As we once again go through one of the first holidays without him here, my heart feels so heavy. My dad was one of those guys that didn't really think much of Valentines day, but always seemed to do something little for my mom, even if she had to tell him to. :) I remember when the girls and I were little, he would buy us roses...all 4 of us would get red roses from him. He loved every minute of being a dad and we loved spoiling our dad. One of our favorite things to say was "Poor daddy" :) If he got hurt or was upset or sad he knew he could always get sympathy from his girls. My mom would just roll her eyes and smile. He was always there for us and made each of us feel special. He would play pretty pretty princess with us and wear all of the jewelry and the crown, because that's what dads with girls do. :) He let us put his hair in pigtails, he embraced having daughters. He played catch with a football with us and we all collected baseball cards. Dealing with 4 women in one house is a tough task but he took it all in. One of the phrases as a high schooler I always would say to him was, "you just don't understand." Until his last days we joked with that phrase and he found a few times to tell me that I just didn't understand.  He was so good at his job. Everyone who dealt with him really had respect for him. He was honest and told you exactly how he felt about something and I loved that about him. He was willing to take risks to find out what he really wanted. More importantly the love that he showed my mom was like none other. You could always see how much they loved each other. He loved our mother with every inch of his soul. I am thankful that we moved down here and I know that it was meant to be. We made so many memories with him and the boys got to spend quality time with grandpa. Grandpa was so proud of his grandsons and I can't help but be sad that they didn't get that much time with him. But I am truly grateful they got to swim, hunt for rocks, use the metal detector, go to the park, play catch and got so many hugs and kisses from him. I can never put into words how much I miss my dad and will for the rest of my life. It was too soon and not fair. But I am really thankful for all the moments I had with him. Dad, you will forever have a piece of my heart with you and I will keep you alive with us as much as possible for as long as I am on Earth. I love you with all my heart.
Lan

The following is my tribute to my brother, Les:

I really have fun memories of life with Les as a kid. Being so close in age, we became pretty good buddies. It made me want to post some earlier pictures of him and they ALL will make you smile! I LOVE the “thinker” picture (finger to his mouth) which I believe became his signature pose!!!

Les could be a real tease box but for the most part, we were good friends and found lots of fun things to do together while growing up on the farm. There were no cell phones or electronics so we had to invent our own entertainment!!!  Later in his high school years, I always liked to hang out with him and his buddies because it seemed like I had a crush on all of his friends. :) Whenever he got in trouble, I always would be the one sticking up for him even if he was guilty...which was probably most of the time. :) He and his group of friends were pretty wild and crazy. Then he went in to the Army. I worried about him all the while he was gone and we corresponded with letters. He definitely came home a changed man who grew up fast as it seems to be the case to all who serve.

With true sincerity, I believe that meeting Lora was the best thing that ever happened to him!!! He grew to become this wonderful husband, awesome father, loving grandfather, great provider, successful businessman. As the saying goes “Behind every good man is a good woman”  Couldn’t be a more true statement in this case!!! I always admired him for what he had accomplished and was very very proud of him!!!!!  I feel bad because I don’t think I ever told him that!  Wish I could have been more like him.  He always knew what he wanted and had the confidence to do what he had to do to get there…never fearing to do his own thing. He was true to himself. His laugh and smile were incredible qualities, things we will never forget. Know the girls saw him as their everything but really, Lora and the girls and the grandkids were HIS everything!!!! That was very evident! He was such a lucky man and vice versa! All of us loved him with all our hearts and will miss him more than words can say. There will not be a day that goes by in the rest of my life that I will not think of him.

Love you forever brother from your sis Gail!