This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kathy17rd Surnames: Long, Kuhn, Gress Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.southdakota.counties.turner/457/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Lester L. LONG jr., son of Lester L. and Inez M. LONG was born October 16, 1922 at Mitchell, S.D. His boyhood years were spent in Parker, where he attended the Presbyterian Sunday School and became a member of the church on October 6, 1935. He graduated from Parker High School in 1940. Lester's interest was in music and during his four years of high school he participated in musical activities. He entered State College in Brookings in 1940 and the following year attended Yankton College. On October 19, 1942, he was united in marriage to Ruth Joyce GRESS of Devils Lake, North Dakota. A son Jonny Allen, was born to this union. Lester enlisted on October 23, 1942 at Grand Forks, North Dakota in the army signal corps. After basic taining at Camp Kohler, California, he was assigned to the Western Signal Corps School at Davis, California for technical training. Following a brief furlough at Parker in April 1944, he was sent overseas with the 99th Signal Battalion, first to New Guinea and in October of that year to Leyte Island. Lester was killed in action on November 16, 1944 while on duty as a radio operator. He received Christian burial rites and interment in the temporary military cemetery at Carigara, Leyte, P.I. Survivors are his widow (now Mrs. William KUHN) and son Jonny Allen, age 5 of Sioux City, Iowa and his parents. Final interment with military honors will be on February 22, 1949 in Rose Hill Cemetery, Parker, South Dakota. I am not related, but my great-grandmother Alena Sletten Benson kept the memorial for his funeral. She wrote on the memorial: "I helped Mrs. Long with her work and stayed lot with there son at time when Mrs wanted to go places. So I really miss him too." Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.