Lester C. Bly, age 98, passed away from natural causes on July 4, 2026. Born on February 16, 1928, on a farm near Garretson, SD, to Blanche Edmundson (Steneberg) and C. J. Bly, Les attended country grade school with 18 students in all grades. The Bly boys milked cows and sold the cream in Garretson in addition to working the farm.

Les attended high school in Garretson, SD, and Alhambra, CA, graduating from Garretson High School in 1946. Les, along with five classmates from Garretson, proudly joined the U.S. Navy during WWII, serving in San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Saipan, and the South Pacific Islands. He was honorably discharged in June 1948. Upon discharge from the Navy, he and a cousin spent two months in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, before returning home. From 1948 to 1950, he attended Augustana College, majoring in business administration. In 1951-1953, he attended the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN, for two years in Building Construction Management. Les was never afraid to work and commented that youth today need to be exposed to the various trades to develop a work ethic.

On October 4, 1953, Les married Coletta J. Benning and initially resided in Minneapolis. In 1961, he became employed at the Sioux Falls VA in Sioux Falls, SD, where he worked in the Engineering Department for 31 years. Les joined Dick Stich (his lifelong friend) in the adventurous hobby of hydroplane racing from 1950 to 1963. They raced together at Lake Okoboji, IA; Round Lake, MN; Grass Lake, Wall Lake, Los Lake, Lake Poinsett, and Lake Kampeska, SD. Les and Coletta, along with their four children, spent their weekends at various lakes enjoying time with the racing teams and their families.

In 1962-1963, Les built a home for his family on the west side of Wall Lake, where they raised their children until they were adults. Les worked full-time at the VA, part-time at Stich's Marine, and raised over 250 chinchillas in a building on the Wall Lake acreage. Les also hunted deer and turkey near Bonesteel, SD. In October 1991, Les and Coletta divorced, and she passed away in 2013.

In 1991, at age 62, Les started a second career as a bailiff for the 2nd Circuit Judicial System at the Minnehaha Courthouse. He absolutely loved wearing a suit donned with a Jerry Garcia tie! In October 1993, he married Shirley Wilkinson. Les and Shirley traveled to numerous countries over 20 years. At age 93, he retired from his second career.

Les's younger brother, Ray Bly (92), is the surviving sibling. Les is also survived by his wife, Shirley (Wilkinson); daughters, Shawn (Doug) DeGroot, Lori Bly, and Cindy Bahe; son, Robert Bly; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and thirteen step-great-great-grandchildren.

Les was a charter member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and served as an usher for over 24 years.

Memorials may be designated for the Veterans Community Project, Sioux Falls, SD.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 8th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home in downtown Sioux Falls, located at 507 S. Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. A funeral will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Thursday, July 9th, at 10:00 a.m., followed by refreshments, cookies, and pastries. A burial with full Military Honors, performed by the United States Navy and the American Legion Post 15, will be held at East Palisades Lutheran Church Cemetery, 211 121st St., Garretson, SD (physically located in Rock County, MN, approximately 9 minutes east of the Palisade Lutheran Church in Garretson, SD).

The funeral service for Lester Bly will be livestreamed to YouTube. To participate and watch the service live, please click on the following link: Livestreamed Funeral for Lester Bly