Lester L. Wait

Lester was born on March 19, 1930, in Centerville, Kansas, to Adam and Viola (Johnson) Wait. Lester was the third of four children. He grew up in Kansas, graduating from Sylvia High School in Sylvia, KS. He attended and graduated from Northwestern College (Minneapolis, MN), and from Denver Seminary (Denver, CO) with a Master’s of Divinity degree.

During college, Lester met Virginia, who was also a student at Northwestern. They were married in August of 1953 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After serving as pastor of Maple Plain Community Church (MN) for three years, they felt called to the mission field, and headed to Taiwan, where they ministered until 1976. Lester learned the Taiwanese language so fluently that over the phone, people thought he was Taiwanese! Lester preached in many small villages in Taiwan, as well as taking Venture for Victory basketball teams and Christian musical groups around the island for games and concerts. He noticed one day that the bus stations were filled with young people going sightseeing on the weekends and came up with a unique way to minister to them. He put a small ad in a Taiwanese newspaper inviting people to come on a bus tour to a place of interest, saying there would be many Americans with whom they could practice their English! After arriving at the place of interest and exploring, he would use the Living New Testament to read a passage in English and discuss it with the young people. The bus tour ministry became very popular.

After returning from Taiwan in 1976, Lester pastored Roswell Community Church (Colorado Springs) for a time, worked with International Students, Inc. (Colorado Springs) as director of overseas staff, and pastored a Taiwanese church in Denver, driving to Denver every Sunday. He also was an interim pastor at a church in Budapest, Hungary, one summer. Lester and Virginia would often sing duets together in church, blending his beautiful tenor voice with her lovely soprano voice. He sang at Roswell Community Church with his son Rod as recently as April of this year.

Lester enjoyed the outdoors, hiking up Pikes Peak several times during his 60’s, even taking his granddaughter Amy with him once or twice. He would put his thumb out for a ride down the mountain and was always successful in obtaining a ride! He loved 4-wheeling with Virginia. One time they got stuck at the top of Engineer Pass and had to spend the night there as it was too dark to attempt to safely descend. It was a beautiful, star-filled night.

Lester was a very kind, patient, strong, godly man. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who set an example by living out his faith in Jesus Christ. He never complained when asked for help by family, friends, church members, or co-workers. He would graciously drop everything to give the assistance needed. He could fix just about anything!

Lester is survived by his wife, Virginia, and their three children, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Lester is preceded in passing by his parents, brother Leo, and sisters Madge and Dorothy.

A celebration of Lester’s life will be held at Village Seven Presbyterian Church, 4040 Nonchalant Circle S. in Colorado Springs, CO, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2. A link for a livestream video of Lester’s celebration of life service will be posted here as soon as we have that information.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lester’s home church: Roswell Community Church, 2728 Beacon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Please include “Wait Memorial” in the memo line of your check. We will post an online giving option as soon as we receive it.