D. Lester 'Les' Turnbull, 86
Donald Lester "Les" Turnbull passed away peacefully March 24, 2023, in Missoula, Mont.
A graveside service has taken place in Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint, Idaho.
He was born April 3, 1936, in Sagle, Idaho, to Harley and Mary Lee (Converse) Turnbull. Les grew up on the family property that his grandfather, father and Les had owned and where now his son lives, soon to be followed by a grandson and his family.
Les attended local schools, graduating from Sandpoint High in 1954 where he excelled in football and baseball. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1958 with a degree in civil engineering.
He married high school sweetheart Vinita Apedaile and, together, they had three children, Steven, Teresa and Michael. They later divorced.
Les began his engineering career with the U.S. Forest Service in North Idaho, Missoula and Great Falls, Mont. He then worked for a time at a private engineering firm in Great Falls before striking out on his own with a partner, starting Turnbull & Plummer Engineering, which later became Turnbull Engineering, until his retirement in 1996.
In addition to having a successful engineering business, from 1972 to 1996, Les was one of five engineers who had as a client a national insurance firm that insured ski areas. This gave Les the opportunity to visit and inspect ski areas throughout the nation, including Alaska and Southern Canada. It was an exciting part of his career and he had some adventurous tales of this time. He and a close friend, Dick Ainsworth, were also instrumental in developing a large portion of Placid and Salmon Lakes. This was something they were very proud of.
He married Sandra (Tague) Higgins on April 1, 1983, and they had 40 years of happiness, travel, golfing, friendship and fun together. Their travels took them to their beloved Kauai over 30 times. They also loved road trips and thought nothing of getting in the car to drive across the country to either the D.C. area or New Hampshire to visit their two daughters. One year, their travels took them from the Arctic Circle to the Mexico border and from the Pacific to the Atlantic oceans. They truly enjoyed their few years in St. George, Utah, but most of all, they were happiest in their home at Placid Lake, Mont. He was an avid New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers and Duke Blue Devils fan until the very end!
Les was preceded in death by his parents; son Steven; brother Richard. He is survived by his wife, Sandra of Missoula, Mont.; daughter Teresa (David) Espinoza, and son Michael of Sagle, Idaho; sister Judy (Russ) Collett of Kingston, Wash.; stepchildren, Suzanne (Geoff) Curtis of Hanover, N.H., and Dan (Shelly) Higgins, of Hailey, Idaho; grandson, Christopher (Chelsey) Turnbull of Sagle, Idaho; step-grandchildren, Siena and Lucy Curtis, Tague and Luke Higgins; niece, Lisa (Paul) Meehan, and nephew, Brent (Jessica) Collett and their families.
On a happy ending note … Les’ great-grandson, Harley Turnbull, was born the day before Les passed away. A new life here to love, while a wonderful, much-loved man has left us.
Family and friends are invited to sign Les’ online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint, Idaho.