LESTER F. LUEHRING Nov. 30, 1932 – May 9, 2021
Lester F. Luehring, 88, passed away onto the Lord in his Rio Rancho home on Sunday, May 9, 2021. Les was born on the family farm near Hanover, Kansas on November 30, 1932.
A memorial celebration of his fulfilled life will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 3:00 pm at French Funerals – 9300 Golf Course Road NW in Albuquerque.
Les was an excellent student attending a one-room schoolhouse, winning the County spelling bee in eighth grade and graduating high school at the age of 16 years old. After one year at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, he taught school (5th grade) for one year before taking an entry-level position with the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked his way up to a lineman.
Les’ mother unexpectedly passed away when he was 18; and he then enlisted in the US Army. While in the Army, Les was trained as a diesel engine mechanic and left 2-1/2 years later as a Sergeant. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment while in the Army was meeting and marrying his lovely wife of 66 years, Patsy Yvette McCarty. Together, they spent over one year in Murnau, Germany where their first son, Joe, was born in December 1955.
Shortly following the birth of their first child, Les resigned from the service; and Les and Pat moved back to the farm.
Together, Les and Pat decided there must be a better life, so Les went back to college to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University while still working on the farm during the summer months.
During this three-year period, their second child, daughter Janelle, was born in 1959. His intellect and Army experience came together to start an incredible career, although they struggled financially raising a young family while going to college. The struggles paid off when Les accepted his first career job at Sandia Laboratory in 1960.
Les worked at Sandia Labs until 1970 where he worked in the rocket sled track and surrounding rocket division. During this period, he earned a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UNM; and their third child, Jeffrey, was born in September 1967.
Les then decided to leave Sandia for the private sector and moved his family to Phoenix, AZ to work for Space Data Corporation designing the Javelin rocket.
Les decided working for a small, family-owned business was a dead-end career path; and accepted a position at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1971. Les’ career flourished in Los Alamos where he eventually became a Deputy Division Leader working in the Nuclear Explosive Safety program.
Les retired from LANL in 1990. During his retirement years, Pat and Les travelled through the country in several RVs they purchased, and spent 19 winters in Yuma, AZ golfing and relaxing with friends. Since 1992, they purchased a cabin near Elephant Butte Lake where their family and friends have enjoyed many visits.
In addition to being an excellent engineer, Les had a humble, Christian Midwestern upbringing where he was raised to be kind, patient, understanding, and hard-working among many other positive attributes. He could fix anything broken, no matter how complicated or how long it took. Les enjoyed his family, golf, camping, boating, hunting, fishing, exploring old ghost towns and mine sites, travelling, and sitting at their house on the banks of the Rio Grande enjoying views of the Rio Grande and the Sandia mountains.
Les was preceded in death by his mother, Helen; his father Louis; and his older brother John. Les is survived by his beloved wife of 66 wonderful years, Patsy; his sons, Joe and Jeffrey; his daughter, Janelle; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
As his granddaughter, Shantelle, posted: “Today we lost one of the greatest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My grandpa was the perfect example of everything that a loving husband and father should be. He was hard working, devoted, selfless and such a kind soul. Everyone that knew him loved him and the world will not be the same without him. Heaven gained an amazing angel today and he will forever be missed by all of his friends and family. I love you grandpa????.” All who knew him feel the same way.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Community of Joy Church; Attn. Building Fund, at 841 Saratoga Drive NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, of which Les was involved with; or make contributions to the charity of your choice.
