Lester Wade

Leaving a legacy of love, family, and friends, Lester K. Wade returned to his eternal home on February 4, 2009 due to complications from hip surgery at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Lester was born on December 27, 1936, in Driggs, Idaho, to Lyn and Davida Breckenridge Wade. He spent his early years on his family's ranch near Tetonia, Idaho. He graduated from Teton High School where he participated in athletics and served as student body president. He went on to attend Ricks College and later Utah State University, playing football at both schools, and graduated with a degree in physical education and a minor in mathematics and industrial education. While attending Utah State, he married his sweetheart, Kay Swainston on February 6, 1958, in Driggs, Idaho. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS Temple on August 19, 1960. They were blessed with five daughters and two sons. Lester and Kay returned back to Driggs where he was a teacher and coach at Teton High School from 1962 to 1997. He taught math, P.E., and health. He is best remembered for his coaching where he served as an assistant basketball coach for three years, and head coach for 29 years. He also helped coach football, track, and baseball. His love for the game of basketball and the players he coached brought him much success and recognition throughout the state. His teams won four state championships, three state runners-up, three state consolations, ten district championships, and seven district runners-up. From 1975-78 his team set a state record for most consecutive wins with 75. Individual honors he received were A-3 Coach of the Year five times, Idaho Coach of the Year in 1977, and even received honors as a National Coach of the Year Nominee in 1985. In 1998, he was inducted into the Idaho High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, and also into the Idaho High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He also received the Merit Citation Award from Utah State University. His legacy was strengthened by the fact that amidst all of his years and successes in coaching, he was never whistled for a technical foul. His time on his family's ranch taught him a love for cattle. He continued that love later in his life by raising cattle for many years. He also enjoyed golfing, traveling to see family, and Sunday drives in the Valley. In 1974, Lester became an agent for Farmer's Insurance. His oldest son, Tony, later joined the business where they worked together up until his passing. Lester was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where he served in various callings. Lester was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Adeline, his brothers Adrian, David, and Fred, younger sister Margaret Hillman, and stepsister Renae Bergener. He is survived by his loving wife Kay, daughters Julie (Hal) Mitchell, Leslie (Corbin) Moberg, Jana (Brad) Street, Tara (David) Williams, Krista Brinkerhoff, sons Tony (Julie) Wade, and Eric (Amanda) Wade. He is also survived by 34 grandchildren, 4 great-grandsons, three brothers Bill (Joyce) Wade, Max (Deanna) Wade, and Rex (Dessa) Wade, stepsisters Colleen (Evan) Petersen, and Idonna (Scott) Nickell, sister-in-law Edith Wade and brother-in-law Clair Hillman. Lester left behind a legacy with giant shoes to fill and footsteps to follow. He not only seemed to know everyone, but had room in his heart to love and care for each individual as if they were his own. Years of memories have been created and are now being cherished. What an honorable man he will always be. His spirit lives on and there will not be a single game he misses. We miss you. We love you. Until we meet again, husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, friend, and coach. Funeral services will be on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 1:00 P.M. at the Driggs L.D.S. Stake Center. A visitation will be on Sunday from 6 - 8 P.M. at the Church and then from 11:30 - 12:45 prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will be in the Bates Cemetery. There has been a Lester Wade Memorial Scholarship fund set up at the Bank of Commerce, P.O. Box 787, Driggs, ID 83422, in lieu of sending flowers.

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