Lester Alan Moeller

Lester Alan Moeller, beloved husband, cherished father, and devoted son, packed his suitcase and departed for the final time, embarking on the journey to the great beyond. A world traveler, educator and community activist, and farmer and rancher, Lester’s life was a rich tapestry of love, adventure, and deep connections with those he held dear.

Born to Richard and Margaret, Lester grew up with his two younger brothers, Marcus and Eugene, on the family farm one mile north of Vayland, SD. He attended St. Lawrence Elementary and Miller High School where he participated in FFA, track and field, and theater. Lester was the first in his family to pursue an advanced degree, which lead him to South Dakota State University for his degree in agricultural education. His passion for farming remained unwavering throughout his life, and he took immense pride in his work – helping feed the world.

Following college and a few years of teaching, Lester joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Mali, Africa. It was here that he discovered his lifelong love of travel, developed an appreciation for meeting and connecting with people from diverse cultures, and, most significantly, met the love of his life, Rosemary, on Valentine’s Day in 1976. The two were married December 4th of the same year in a joyous celebration that paraded the newlyweds through the village complete with drums and singing. Over their forty-eight years of marriage, Lester and Rosemary traveled to all seven continents, visited approximately thirty-five countries, and embraced languages and people from all over the world. Lester learned a couple languages and tried his hand at many when traveling; he wasn’t a natural at it, but his kindness often led to others talking to him and opening up. Lester and Rosemary also hosted numerous exchange students over the years and would visit them in their homes too. Their travels and shared experiences created countless unforgettable memories.

Lester considered himself a wealthy man, with his top treasures being his wife, Rosemary, his daughter Rachael (son-in-law Alex, grandsons Conrad and Cameron of Centerville, MA), his son Benjamin (of Hyannis, MA), and his son Alain (granddaughter Maizie of Thief River Falls, MN). Family was his pride and joy and he relished every moment spent with them – games, movies, meals, traveling, or just being in the same room together. Lester and Rosemary's chosen family include Anne Chastel, an exchange student from France (1985), and the Ray family - Cory, Kathy, Alex, Jack, and Delilah (of St. Lawrence, SD).

A devoted member of his communities, Lester was involved in various local organizations in Miller, South Dakota and on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While in South Dakota he attended the First Presbyterian Church, served on the school board for about twenty years, and he was the founder and first president of the Central Plains Arts Council, often acting in and/or directing plays. He served leadership roles (President, Vice President) for the South Dakota Pork Producer’s Council, travelling nationally and internationally with them, advocating to our politicians and government. He was an excellent fisherman and an incredible shot; hunting pheasants and deer. He also liked scouting with his children. In his retirement, Lester and Rosemary spent more time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he greatly enjoyed golfing, numerous card groups, attending and participating in his Unitarian church, and going to many social gatherings, like ROMEOS. Known for his love of art, a passion for reading, and a fantastic sense of humor, Lester was also a gifted storyteller, captivating audiences with his anecdotes.

An incredibly hard worker his family greatly enjoyed getting him away on vacation – where he often was able to really unwind and be the best version of himself. But his hard work ethic would often never even leave him on vacation. When asked once on vacation by one of his kids if he wanted to go and attend a late-night activity, he replied his default response, “No, I got to get up and work in the morning.”. “Dad, you are literally on a boat in the ocean, you don’t.”. He always was a very dedicated and passionate worker.

Lester’s memory will live on in all the people he loved and all the people who loved him. He leaves behind a huge group of family and friends who adore him. He showed us the world is ours, and it’s only as big as we decide it to be. And that there is always more room for laughter, adventure, and love.

Memorial services will be set up in the future (most likely in summer) at both the farmstead outside Miller and on Cape Cod. If you feel compelled to do something in Lester's memory, please pick from the following: These are ways to truly honor him: smile at a stranger, grow something, feed someone, help someone in a way they can’t do for themselves and don’t expect anything in return for it, and go out and see the world.