Lester P. Valenta

Lester “Les” Valenta, age 90 of Maribel, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 15, 1936, to the late Albert and Rose (Sladkey) Valenta and graduated from Denmark High School in the class of 1955. Following graduation, Lester enlisted in the United States Army, where he specialized in combat engineering. He was only able to serve for about two years of his time overseas due to the family needing him back at the farm. On August 30, 1958, Lester married his high school sweetheart, Dolores Loberger, at All Saints Church in Denmark.

Along with the family farm, Lester worked for Valenta Concrete Products, making concrete blocks, which was a family owned business started by his father. After that he worked for a time at Schuster Construction. He then purchased several pieces of excavating equipment and started Les Valenta Construction, building roads and completing many other heavy duty excavating equipment projects. Lester also worked for L.C. Cherney Construction, Bielinski Excavating and Fred Radandt & Sons. He was also a member of Operating Engineers Local 139. He was a member of the Maribel Lions Club, the Maribel Sportsman Club, the Maribel Volunteer Fire Department, and the Denmark School Board. Lester loved music and was an accomplished trumpet player which was a skill that started in the high school band. He also played trumpet in the U.S. Army Band and would occasionally play trumpet with local polka bands in the Maribel area.

Lester enjoyed hosting gatherings of friends and family at his cabin, “Lester’s Leisure Land”, just outside of Maribel. He spent many hours at the cabin and could normally be found with a chainsaw or axe in his hands cutting down trees to clear land or making firewood. He also enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, crabbing, shooting pool and bowling. He will be remembered for his stories, his laugh, and great sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife, Dolores; six children, Mark Valenta, Dan (Mary) Valenta, Julie Bakran, Laura Valenta, Sandra (Eric Zarling) Valenta and Michael Valenta; six grandchildren, Christopher (Jaci) Valenta, Jacci Valenta, Karli (Cuyler) Franzke, Elizabeth Valenta, Isabel Perez, Violet Perez; and seven great grandchildren, Rocco, Marvin, Karmichael, Candy, Bowen, Iver, and Maren. Lester is further survived by his brother, Edwin Valenta; one sister-in-law, Janet Harvey; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding Lester in death are his parents, Albert and Rose; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy (Otmar) Rabas, Lorraine (LeRoy) Skarivoda; brother and sister-in-law, Albert (Sharon) Valenta; sister-in-law, Patricia Valenta; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Urban and Christine Loberger; brothers-in-law, Ronald Loberger, Gerald Loberger and Kenneth Loberger; sister-in-law, Irene (Steve) Lechner; and step-father, Frank Feit.

In keeping with Lester’s wishes, the immediate family will gather privately to honor and remember him. We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers during this time.

The family would also like to give special thanks to the staff of Scandinavian Court Assisted Living and AseraCare Hospice for providing Lester with exceptional care.