Lester Howard Andrist was born January 24, 1915 in Dodge County, Minnesota, the 2nd child of Frederick and Hattie (Stark) Andrist. Lester started school in Waukegan, Illinois where his family lived for a time. In 1926 they moved to a farm in Amberg, Wisconsin where he graduated from the White Rapids country school and also attended the Stephenson Teachers training school in Michigan for a time.

He joined the CCC's during the depression years and one of the things he did was to plant trees. In 1938 he drove a milk route for Henry DeMille. The trucks had wooden boxes designed to haul two decks of 10 gallon cans. they held 85 pounds of milk plus the weight of the tin can.

Lester entered the United States Army during WWII. He was with a tank battalion in Germany and received 3 Bronze Stars for bravery and two commendations for fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. He also received a Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, Expert Badge with Machine Gun Bar and Submarine Gun Bar, Sharpshooter Badge with Carbine Var and Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar. He was discharged at the rank of sergeant.

After the war Lester found a job in Milwaukee working at Briggs and Straton. He operated a stamping press and lost several fingers in an accident. There he met Mary "Mae" Elizabeth Butterfield. They were married on June 26, 1948 in Amberg. They had four children: Joyce Lyn, Wendy Louise, Frederick William and Edward Allen, also in the family was Roberta Mae, daughter of Mae's from a previous marriage.

In 1956 Lester moved his family back to home on a farm 8 miles from Amberg. There he farmed 80 acres, he raised dairy and beef cattle as well as crops. With a growing family Lester and Mae each held jobs off the farm as well. Lester worked for Mathis Lumber Company in Amberg where he ran a post peeler.

The Andrist family loved to play cards, Pinochle, cribbage and canasta were favorites and Lester was always ready and willing to have a few hands, he could even shuffle cards after losing his fingers on his right hand. They always had a huge garden that included muskmelons, one of Lester's favorites when he helped his dad with a garden.

Lester and Mae were members of the Lutheran Church in Daggett, Michigan. It was a 25 mile trek to church and they never missed a Sunday. Later they went to Grace Lutheran Church in Pembine.

Lester passed away in his sleep at his home on December 26, 1987 at the age of 72. His funeral was held at the church in Pembine with Rev. Steve Cowen officiating. Burial was in the Amberg Cemetery, Amberg, Wisconsin.

Story told by Lester's children for a family book written in 2010.