Leslie Wilson

August 9, 1945 – November 17, 2018

Leslie Wilson of Moses Lake passed on Nov. 17, 2018 after a two-year battle with leukemia. He died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

Les was born Aug. 9, 1945 in Omak, Wash. to Roy E. Wilson and Audrie Mae Wilson. He spent his childhood on the family ranch in Chewelaken Valley and attended school in Tonasket. The family moved to Curlew in 1963 where he graduated from high school.

Les met Judy Thorp from Okanogan at a 4-H conference when he was 15 and the friendship endured. They were married in 1965 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and had been married 53 years.

In 1968 Les graduated from the Washington State Patrol academy and was assigned to Vancouver, Wash. as a trooper. Son Scott was born in Vancouver in 1970. Les was reassigned to Spokane, Wash. in 1973 and the family was glad to return to the east side of the mountains, moving to property they owned in Veradale, Wash. A short time later in 1974 daughter Tracy was born in Spokane.

Les spent the following years working as a Washington State Patrol Trooper on I-90 in the Spokane area. His days off were spent working on the family ranch in Curlew. He had a love for cattle and the Western lifestyle.

In 1983 Les was in a serious patrol car accident that ended his WSP career. While he was recovering from several back surgeries his biggest pleasure was taking his children and other young people to cattle shows all over the Northwest. He was always ready to take a trailer load of cattle and a pickup full of kids to the livestock shows. One rule was that he got one of the beds in the motel; kids could sleep in sleeping bags on the floor. He continued the tradition by making sure his grandchildren had the opportunity to compete and attend local and regional shows.

Les and Judy bought a ranch north of Moses Lake in 1989 where he resided until his death. Son Scott took over management of the ranch as Les’ health deteriorated. He still loved to check on new calves and make sure the fences were hot and water troughs were full.

Les was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Audrie Wilson of Curlew, Wash. and a sister Lela Kurtz of Republic, Wash. He is survived by is wife of 53 years Judy; children Scott Wilson (Gerry) of Moses Lake and Traci Sevigney (Jeff) of Valleyford; special nephew Loren Kilham (Kim) of Spokane and grandchildren Rylee, Reagan and Wyatt as well as Kory and Kyle Kilham. He is also survived by sister Sharon McKinney and nephew Troy Kilham of Moses Lake.

Les loved his family; he loved and missed his job as a WSP trooper, and he loved being a rancher. We are missing him already.

Private family burial will be in Conconully cemetery.

A barbecue celebration of life will be held in the spring, when the grass is green. A notice will be posted on Facebook and in the paper.

Memorial donations may be made in Les’ name to Junior Livestock Show of Spokane, 3810 E. Boone Ave, Suite 204, Spokane, WA 99202.