Early Royal Slope irrigated farmer Bill Lefler dies

ROYAL CITY - William "Bill" Gaumer Lefler, who came to the Royal slope at the same time irrigation did, died on Friday, July 13, 2012. He was 84.

Mr. Lefler will be remembered as one of Royal's first irrigation farmers. He will be remembered for his service to his fellow man. He will be remembered as a friend.

"He had a great laugh. He was a great story teller," said longtime Royal businesswoman Nancy Callahan. "He was just a great guy."

Mr. Lefler was honored as Royal City Citizen of the Year in 1992. He and his wife Larea were the Royal City SummerFest grand marshals in 2010.

Mr. Lefler was an active Lion's Club and Moose Club member. His hobbies included golfing, snowmobiling, traveling and especially wood-working.

"He made all kinds of things out of wood, and he was really good at it," Callahan said.

Nancy and her husband Dean were beneficiaries of some of that work. And it was practically donated.

"We paid him something, probably just enough to cover the cost of materials."

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2012, at the Church of the Nazarene, 200 Calla Loop NW, Royal City. Burial will be held in private.

Relatives and friends are welcome at the memorial services and reception. The reception will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the Royal City Golf Course Community Center, 13702 Dodson Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Royal City Community Golf Course or Assured Hospice of Moses Lake. The family asks you to sign the online guestbook or leave a note at www.kayserschapel.com.

A resident of Royal City since 1960, Mr. Lefler passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer, the family said. He was at his home, with his wife and children by his side.

Mr. Lefler was born on March 31, 1928, in Weiser, Idaho. He lived in Wilder, Idaho, where he farmed and worked at a dairy.

Mr. Lefler joined the U.S. Navy as a 17-year-old high school graduate and served in the Pacific as WWII was coming to an end. After his return he married Larea Maxwell in 1950. The Leflers celebrated their 62nd anniversary in June.

Mr. Lefler remained in Wilder until he drew a Columbia Basin farm unit under the GI Homestead Act. He and Larea homesteaded just west of Royal City, and the couple settled there. Frank and Chris Mianecki, this year's SummerFest grand marshals, became neighbors in 1968.

"We tended to trade work back and forth," Chris said.

Frank Mianecki, Ed Lutz and Mr. Lefler formed a partnership and developed the Blythe Farms grain storage business. They named it Blythe because they all lived near the Blythe Watermaster.

Alice Parker is a neighbor who came to the slope about the same time as the Leflers. She recalled a man who was always willing and ready to help.

"When my husband (Ike) got cancer, Bill came up here and just started swathing my hay," she said.

Mr. Lefler served 25 years on the Quincy Irrigation Water District board of directors. He was also a commissioner and fire chief for The Grant County Fire District No. 10 of Royal City. Ambulance service was started in the 1960s during his time at the helm.

"He was a volunteer firefighter and then a commissioner," said current firefighter Lloyd Sparks, who served with Mr. Lefler. "Bill and my dad (Frank Sparks) served on the commission together."

Mr. Lefler served as a Port of Royal Slope commissioner. He was instrumental in developing the Royal City Golf course and helped establish phone service to the west end of the Royal Slope in the 1960s.

Mr. Lefler was preceded in death by his parents Rex and Ruth Lefler, sister Betty Swigert, grandson Caleb James Schoppert and granddaughter Michelle Lefler.

Mr. Lefler's survivors include his wife Larea Lefler of Royal City; daughter Debra Busick and son-in-law Steve from Cle Elum; daughter Denise Lefler of Othello; and son Rex Lefler and daughter-in-law Maria of Royal City; grandchildren Shevea Schoppert of Tukwila, Sidiya Schoppert of Seattle and Ryan, Reed and Riley Lefler of Royal City; and a great grandchild, Joseph James Schoppert-Rodriguez of Tukwila.

Arrangements are in the care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory.