Lester Paro, Jr.

Lester Merle Paro Jr. was born in Missoula August 3, 1931 and passed away peacefully November 19, 2016 in Ronan.

He had a large family, 4 sisters, Glenna, Karen, Toni and Penny, 2 brothers, Jim and Tom.

Lester grew up in Hot Springs, he was active in academics and was Valedictorian was also involved with sports, he especially loved basketball!

After graduating he went into the Navy and was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain and served during the Korean War and traveled around the world.  After his honorable discharge he attended Western Collage in Dillon, Montana and received his master’s degree in both  mathemetics and physical education.

After college he started teaching math and coaching boy’s basketball in St. Regis, then got a job and moved to Lewistown where he met and married Barbara.  Shortly after they moved back to Ronan where Les took a job as a basketball coach and math teacher.  After a couple of years their daughter Leslie Jyl was born.  They lived there for a few more years and then Les got a good job at Investors Diversified in Great Falls.  After time Lester took a job with General Telephone Co. in Everett Wa. He worked and lived there, where his two sons Jason and Jeff were born.  Two years later they moved to Apple Valley California where Les got  a job and went to work for Apple Valley Telephone Co.  Several years later they moved back to Ronan where Les taught again and lived there until 1980 when they divorced.  Lester stayed in Ronan for a while until he took a job in Spokane at Telco, he was there for several more years.  He then retired and followed the horse racing circuit enjoying the sunshine from Phoenix to New Mexico as a jockey’s agent.  He returned back home to Ronan as his health started to decline to be with all his family where he remained until his death.

Lester is survived by sisters Glenna, Toni, Penny both brothers Jim and Tom daughter Leslie Jyl sons Jason and Jeff and four grandchildren.