Lester D. Colman

TURTLE LAKE — Lester D. Colman, 38, went to be with the Creator on March 17 in Missoula after suffering a bout of pneumonia.

A member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe, Lester was born Nov. 11, 1967, in St. Ignatius to Sam and Dorothy (Adams) Colman. Raised on the Flathead Reservation and Western Montana, Lester went to school in Ronan, Superior and Polson. After he completed his education he worked as a fisherman on the boats in Alaska and as firefighter for the Tribe. It was here that he earned his nickname "Sawdust."

Lester enjoyed being with his family and friends. An avid outdoorsman, Lester enjoyed hunting and fishing. In his opinion there was no better place to be than the woods, they were always quiet and peaceful.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Dorothy; brother Rick Lozeau; uncle Homer Colman; aunt and uncle Jack and Sugar Stiner; niece Nicole Colman and numerous cousins.

Survivors include his daughter Tiffany; his brothers and sisters, Wayne (Debby Courville) Colman, Linda (Chuck) Zeiler, Amos Colman, Glenda (Bodge Whitworth) Colman and Arnold (Dernell) Colman; his aunts and uncles, Alvin "Snuse" and Christine McClure, Cecile Lumpry and Russell Husband as well as a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held March 20 in the Longhouse with Pastor Tom Anderson officiating.

Interment was in the Jocko Cemetery in Arlee.