Memorial Services for Lester Miles

Memorial Services for Lester Miles, age 98, of Plainview, formerly of Chambers and O’Neill, will be at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, October 3, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church in O’Neill. Graveside Services will be at 4 P.M. at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Thedford, NE. Lester passed away Wednesday evening, September 23, 2015, at the Plainview Manor in Plainview, Nebraska. Arrangements are under the direction of Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill. Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

He is survived by his wife, Rose, of Plainview, 4 daughters; Alberta Mikkelsen of Chambers, NE, Sammie Rowse and husband Ricky, of Amelia, NE, Cindy Fluckey and husband Calvin of Plainview, NE, Sue Kissell and husband Greg of Sargent, NE, 2 sons; Bernard Miles and Bart Miles, both of Grand Island, NE, siblings; Eldora Hardy of Valentine, NE, sister-in-law Kathleen Miles of Thedford, NE, Merle Marie Melcher of Fairbury, NE, Sam (Charolette) Miles of Valentine, NE, Bernard (Lovella) Miles of Valentine, NE, Grandchildren; Donya Mikkelsen, Arwin (Laura) Mikkelsen, Burton (Valerie) Mikkelsen, Justin (Amy) Rowse, Aaron Rowse, Vincent (Melissa) Fluckey, Eric Fluckey, Byron (Dawn) Grenier, Robert (Angela) Grenier, Joseph (Jenna) Grenier, and ten great grandchildren, 5 step great grandchildren, step grandson Cecil (Samantha) Kissell, and one great great grandchild. Lester Austin Miles was born May 28, 1917, to Austin Philo Miles and Janie Mae (Lester) Miles, near Arnold, NE. At the age of one, he and his parents moved to the sandhills about two miles east of Brownlee, known as Shepard Place. He started school in Brownlee, and attended High School at Brownlee and Curtis, NE. On May 29, 1939, he married Alberta Clarice Morford, a teacher from Hubbell, NE. To this union, twin daughters were born at Alliance, NE, on November 3, 1941. Mrs. Alberta Miles died in childbirth, and daughter, Marjorie was stillborn. Baby Alberta Catherine survived. On October 30, 1948, Lester and Sylvia Rose Florea, a teacher from Thedford, were married. To this union, 3 girls and twin boys were born. Daughters Sammie Elizabeth, Cindy Mae, Aletha Sue, and twin sons Bart Alfred and Bernard Austin. Lester and Rose moved from Brownlee vicinity to the ranch in Garfield County, south of Chambers, in 1952. They retired and moved to O’Neill. Lester loved his family, horses, cattle, and a good dog. He always had time to visit with friends and neighbors. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in O’Neill and The Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also a member of the Holt County Historical Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, Austin and Mae, wife Alberta, daughter Marjorie, brother Robert, 2 brothers-in-law; Burton Hardy and Jim Melcher, nephew Bobby Hardy, son-in-law Eddie Grenier, Grandson Austin Grenier.