Lester "Chop" Dalgliesh

Lester Dalgliesh, 61, of Baker City, Oregon died at his home Thursday, May 16, 2019.  A family gathering will be arranged and announced at a later time.

Lester Eugene Dalgliesh was born May 31, 1957 to parents Roy and Hope Dalgliesh. He was born, raised and educated in Baker City graduating from Baker High School in 1976. Lester affectionately earned the nickname “Chop” and was called by that name throughout his life.

Chop married Hannah Cherry, September 26, 1987. They met while she was visiting for the summer, over a game of foosball.

  Chop ran his own business, Lester Construction Inc. which focused on forest restoration.  He enjoyed this job because he was able to spend time in one of his favorite places, the mountains. Traveling to work required him to stay on the west side of Oregon a lot.  He also worked in California, Washington and Ohio. Chop was given an award from the Forrest Service for “Outstanding Performance” over the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000.  This award is usually only given to Forrest Service Employees. Chop was very proud of the forests that he helped rebuild and made sure to point out every area he had worked to his daughters. “Our dad was such a strong, hardworking man.”

Chop enjoyed all things outdoors, including camping, fishing, hunting, and taking drives to the mountains. He knew all the best areas to look for mushrooms, to find huckleberry patches and the very coolest secret places in the mountains.  Chop had faith, but never went to any church, except the outdoors which he would call “Gods Church.”

Chop loved animals (and they loved him). His special pet was our Rat Terrier “Boo Bear.” He was proud of his family, but not as proud as they were of him. He was always honest, proud, never complained, and had the best sense of humor.  Chop showed us what perseverance was all about.

In Later years, Chop was struck with Kidney problems.  His nurses referred to him as the poster boy for Dialysis, as he was on it for 6 years without one infection.  This is not a normal occurrence and the nurses were always happy to see him.   Chop was kind to everyone and touched a lot of people’s lives. 

Each year Chop planted one of the best gardens.  Just this spring with his heart at 10% capacity, he finished planting his beloved garden just two days before he passed away. This would be his final accomplishment. 

A favorite saying of Chop’s was “I’ll see you bright and squirrelly”! He lived by the life philosophy that everything happens for a reason. “Dad had so many fantastic stories and was the best at telling them. There are too many good ones to choose from. All of them will remain with us, they’ll just never be told the same way again”.

He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Hope Dalgliesh and his twin brother Larry.

Chop is survived by his wife Hannah Dalgliesh of 31 years; daughters Althea Dalgliesh and Fiancé Tyler Thamert of La Grande, Elizabeth (Libbe) Dalgliesh of Baker City and Rachel McCullough of Redmond; grandchildren Mason and Lance of La Grande, OR; brothers Dan and Dave Dalgliesh of New Mexico, sister Trudy Dalgliesh of Baker City; nieces Cindy, Sherry, Haley, Lisa, Jessie, and Lindsay; nephew Ryan.

The family requests donations be of blankets for dialysis patients, in memory of Lester, because you get so cold when doing treatments. They can be dropped off with either Hannah or Althea.  If you would like to send a monetary donation the family suggests Eastern Oregon Dialysis through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com