Obituary: Kuest, Leroy
Age 96
He was born in Odessa, WA., on August 25, 1918, graduated from Odessa High School and in 1942 and joined the Army Air Corps.
He was a crew chief for B-17s as a member of the 331st squadron of the 94th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force stationed in England near London where he met his future wife, Margaret McCurdy, and they were married in Odessa September 15, 1946.
They lived in Quincy, Odessa, and Moses Lake before moving to Spokane in 1961 where they operated a Tastee Freeze on Ash and Nora, and later the Hole ‘n One Donut Shop at Northtown.
When retired, he delivered fuel for Cenex in Reardan, and drove harvest trucks.
He was dedicated to keeping alive the history of the 94th Bomb Group and was instrumental in organizing reunions of former servicemen and sharing his memoirs and collection of photographs from the war.
In 1990 they were present for a ceremony dedicating a rose garden on the abbey grounds of Bury St. Edmunds to the servicemen stationed at the nearby Rougham Air Field.
In retirement, Leroy and Margaret greatly enjoyed their farm and animals on Indian Prairie northwest of Spokane in the Seven Mile area.
In 1998 they moved to the new Hawthorne Retirement community.
He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church.
Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, siblings: three brothers and three sisters, and his wife, Margaret, in 2005.
He is mourned by several nieces and nephews (also great and great-great), and many good friends.
Memorial services are being planned for Rockwood at Hawthorne, and gravesite with Honor Guard later in the Spring.
Memorials may be made to The Foundation at Rockwood at Hawthorne, or Hospice of Spokane.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com.
STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the family.