Obituary of Gary N Lehto

Age 66, Passed away November 28, 2016, at Golden Living Transitional Care Facility in Roseville, MN after surviving cancer for 8 years. A service of remembrance will be held on Friday, December 9th, at 11:00 am at the St. Paul Chapel of the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 1979 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55119. Gary was born June 26, 1950 in Virginia, MN to Nick and Martha Lehto, the second of three sons. Gary grew up in Embarrass, MN and graduated as class valedictorian from Embarrass High School, where he had participated in basketball, football, and track as a proud "Panther." After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College, where he spent his Junior year studying in Europe, he made his home on the West Coast, settling in Ridgefield, WA, where he lived the last 30 years. Gary earned a MS degree in Psychology from Portland State University in 1981 and then went to work at the State of Oregon's Bureau of Labor & Industries, retiring in July 2012. Gary married Melinda Ells on April 15, 2000 in Ridgefield. Together they ran a Christmas tree Farm and raised two children. Gary was a lifelong Democrat, who loved discussing politics and reading and discussing history, especially books on President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. He played various musical instruments, including the accordion and saxophone, which he played in the Biwabik Clown Band for many years. He was also a sports fan of both Minnesota and Washington State teams and an avid fan of the Portland Trailblazers. (He was, however, very happy to see the Cubs win the World Series this year!) Survivors include his wife, Melinda (Ells) Lehto, daughter Ashley and son Nicholas (Ridgefield, WA); brother Bradley Lehto (Roseville, MN); and nephew Daniel (Dara) Lehto (Eden Prairie, MN). He was preceded in death by his parents Nick and Martha Lehto (Embarrass, MN), and brother, Donald Lehto and Don's, wife Ellen (Jefson) Lehto (Rogers); and nephew Jonathan Lehto.