OBITUARY...
Steven C. Lester, 60, Rapid City, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

He was born Sept. 22, 1950, in Chamberlain to Carl A. and Irene L. (Farnsworth) Lester. Steve grew up and attended school in Chamberlain until 1964 when the family moved to Sioux Falls where he attended Washington High School enjoying photography and art.
In 1967 the family moved to Rapid City where Steve graduated from Rapid City High School in 1968. He attended Black Hills State University where he earned a degree in education. Steve began teaching art at South Junior High in 1974.

He married Pamela Lee Radtke in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1974. They had three children: Rocky (1977), Kjerstin (1979) and Luke (1980).

Steve began working in the family motel business on Mount Rushmore Road in 1977. In 1990 he built the Econo Lodge and several other hotels throughout South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Steve and his sons purchased the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn in 2004 and in 2009 they purchased the Sioux Falls City Centre Holiday Inn. Although Steve became known as a businessman, currently employing more than 300 people in South Dakota, he was always a teacher to those closest to him. He taught us to work the problem and gave us insightful and creative advice on how to arrive at a solution. He taught us to think differently and to be creative. Throughout his life, Steve enjoyed being creative whether it be developing hotels, putting together business deals or designing his own home and that was amplified when his children became part of the business and shared in all of his dreams and visions. The love of his life was his family.

Survivors include his family, Pam Lester, Rapid City; two sons, Rocky and Aimee Lester and Luke and Jennifer Lester, all of Rapid City; a daughter, Kjerstin and Jackson Cyr, Bozeman, Mont.; three grandchildren, Charlie, Owen and Carson; two brothers, Gary Lester, Chamberlain, and Greg and Janet Lester, Rapid City; a sister, Connie Uhre, Rapid City; and numerous nieces and nephews.