Lifelong Crook County resident Lester "Les" E. Waugh, 79, passed away Sept. 23 at his home near Sundance. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at the United Methodist Church in Sundance, with Pastor Duane Simonson officiating. Burial will follow at Green Mountain Cemetery near Sundance. Remembrance and a viewing will be held at Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.
Les and his twin brother, Leslie, were born July 9, 1929 to John and Ruth (Parkins) Waugh in a house adjacent to the old Nelson sawmill near Alva, Wyo. Noted for their mischievous childhood, the twin brothers with the help of their dog once spent everyday after school for a week digging up a section marker. Their mother made them put their prize back in the ground. On another occasion they painted the headlights and windshield of their uncle's brand new Model T Ford with pink sheep paint.
After their father passed away when they were four years old, the twins' older brothers helped their mother raise them. They lived in the Alva area until Les was nine years old at which time they moved into Hulett where he graduated from high school in 1949. Loving to play basketball in high school, he became a lifelong fan for his grandkids making it a point to attend their games.
First beginning to collect arrowheads and Native American artifacts when he was eight years old, Les amassed a noteworthy collection. A University of Wyoming professor once visited him to view the collection. Many a friend marveled at how he could pick an arrowhead up right out of their tracks. Les also grew an expansive garden and was known for his beautiful yard with numerous trees.
An avid hunter, while driving through the Bearlodge Mountains and Black Hills he could tell story after story of hunting trips. He also spent many years working as a hunting guide and traveled to other parts of Wyoming on hunting trips. He spent many days hunting and fishing with his family and friends.
As a child Les watched the progression from horse drawn equipment to tractors. His uncle, having just purchased a new tractor, wrecked it into the ditch all the while pulling on the steering wheel and yelling "whoa!" It was one of Les' favorite childhood stories to share.
Les enlisted in the Army in 1950 when his twin brother Leslie was drafted. They were stationed in Germany as cooks at a time when the military was ending its policy of letting siblings enlist for dual service. Les was discharged in 1951, came home to Hulett and went to work on the Bush Ranch.
On Feb. 22, 1953 Les married Donna Mae Tschetter in Spearfish, S.D. at the Lutheran Church. They started their married life in Hulett, but moved to Sundance in June 1954 and raised five daughters in the Sundance community. In September of 1954 he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service marking timber, planting trees and constructing campgrounds in the Bearlodge National Forest. He knew where the largest tree in Crook County was and often took his grandkids to see it in the Cook Lake area.
In 1965 Les left the Forest Service and he and Donna purchased the North Pole Locker Plant in Sundance, which they operated until 1975. From 1975 until the time he retired he worked as a carpenter building several log homes across Crook County.
Les is survived by his wife Donna and five daughters – Cindy (Mark) Duca of Upton, Susan (Dean) Kettley of Leiter, Vicky (Tod) Vineyard of Sundance, Janet (Lance) Buer of Carlile and Leslie (Lonnie) Robinson of Casper. Also surviving him are his twin brother Leslie (Elaine) of Hulett, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren thankful for the time spent with "Papa," six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
Les was preceded in death by his parents, three nephews and older brothers Hank, Lee, John, Charlie and Louie.
A memorial has been established with the CCMS Old Stoney Restoration Fund and can be mailed to PO Box 837, Sundance WY 82729.