William 'Bill' Lawrence Lesher

On May 10, 2025, William “Bill” Lesher passed away peacefully at Red Deer Hospital at the age of 85. Born on March 3, 1940, at Lacombe Hospital, Bill was the son of Elmer Everett Lesher of Kansas and Lillian Irene Lesher (formerly Meldrum) of Ontario. He was the second youngest of five siblings—Isabelle, Eileen, Bob, and Sandra. He was later joined by two half-siblings, Tom and Susan mothered by Edna Gish.

Bill was a passionate sportsman through and through—both as a lifelong Edmonton Oilers fan as well as an athlete in his own right. He never missed a game, proudly cheering through every moment of the Oilers dynasty years up until the day of his passing. In his younger years, he played fastball for the Lacombe Apaches, junior football with the Edmonton Huskies, and laced up his skates for multiple local hockey leagues and was an avid skier and enjoyed it for years.

Bill also had a deep love for fishing, was a founding member of the Clive Lions Club, served with the Clive Fire Department, and had a true passion for travel.

Bill married Orlean Lesher (formerly Leibing) on June 10, 1960 and they remained married for 49 years until August 10, 2009. Together they raised three children: Shelley, Penny, and Nick. He was a proud grandfather to 5 grandchildren and 17 great grand children.

His professional legacy was rooted in farming and seed production. In 1969, Bill and two business partners established LFD ( Lesher, Friesen ,Danser )Farming Corporation. In 1985, he founded Lesher Seed Farm and became a certified seed grower through the SeCan Association Ltd. and was a founding member of both Progressive Seed and Can-Seed. He remained dedicated to the seed business until 2018, known for his resourcefulness, knowledge, mechanical talent, and wide-ranging skill set. Bill was the quintessential old-school farmer—always building, fabricating, fixing, and helping those around him.

Bill was deeply passionate about exploring the world, visiting more than 25 countries. He loved to immerse himself in local culture and history wherever he travelled, with a special connection to Asia—particularly China. He was known to spend up to 6 months a year there. From riding yaks on the Tibetan Plateau to hiking the Great Wall and drifting down the Yangtze River in a longtail boat, Bill embraced every moment.

Fifteen years ago, the threads of fate brought Bill and Wei Jun Xiong together. As their bond grew, they fell in love and eventually walked hand in hand into the hall of marriage. They were married in March of 2010 in Wei Jun’s hometown of Quzhou City, China. They remained devoted companions for the next 15 years, sharing a life in both China and Canada of friendship, laughter, and deep connection up until his passing.

In 2003, Bill sustained serious kidney damage from shovelling out a toxic grain bin, reducing his kidney function by about 40%. Despite this setback, he carried on for over 20 years with quiet determination. He was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in his 30’s, facing it with the same strength and perseverance that defined his life and ultimately succumbing to total kidney failure in the end.

He leaves behind a lasting mark on his family, his community, and everyone lucky enough to have known and loved him.

The family wishes to thank Dr.Kapil, Dr Kim Jim, Nurse Jill and the staff at Red Deer Hospital and ICU for their exceptional, compassionate care. 

A Celebration Of Life will be held at the Lacombe Memorial Centre, on Monday, June 9th. 2025 at 2:00pm. 

Vistation for Bill will be held at the Wilson's Funeral Chapel, Lacombe on Friday, May 23, 2025  from 3:00pm. - 6:00pm. 

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