Leslie E. Foss

Pastor Les Foss died peacefully at the Hospice Care Center, in Longview, Wash., Dec. 16, 2022.

Leslie Edward Foss was born June 2, 1940, in Greenbush, Minn., to Elmer and Gunhild (Stenberg) Foss. His early childhood years were in Grand Forks, N.D. At age 12, his family moved to Canby, Ore., where he graduated from Canby High School in 1958. Further graduations were from Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

Les was ordained a Lutheran pastor June 7, 1970, at Zoar Lutheran Church in Canby, Ore. Pastor Foss served in North Dakota from 1970-1976 at Hoff Lutheran in Heimdal, Vang Lutheran in Manfred, and Trinity Bethany Lutheran in Harvey. He served at Emmanuel Lutheran in Bremerton, Wash., from 1976-1979, and at Bethany Lutheran in Longview from 1979-2005, when he retired.

In retirement, Les served as interim pastor at Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Cathlamet, Wash., from 2010-2013. Les celebrated his 50th ordination anniversary in 2020. He had been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Longview since 2006.

Les was a Kiwanis member in Harvey, N. D., Bremerton, and Longview from 1970-2020. He served on the Longview Habitat for Humanity Board, as a Longview/Kelso ministerial officer, and SW Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Lower Columbia Conference Dean. He looked forward to sermon text study gatherings with area pastors and weekly prayer fellowship with local pastors and lay people.

Les met Connie Studebaker at the Lutheran Bible Institute and they married in Seattle in July of 1963. They had three children: Cheryl, John, and Amy. Favorite activities were summer vacations camping with his children and grandchildren, biking, golfing, backyard croquet, and in retirement, winter RV trips to Southern California and Arizona to visit family and friends.

Les is survived by his wife of 59 years, Connie; his daughters, Amy Foss and Cheryl (Don) Carlson; his son, John (Sarah) Foss; and eight grandchildren, Rachel (Steven) Morrison, Joel Carlson, Eva Carlson, Sonja Carlson, Megan Foss, Joshua (Christie) Foss, Andrew (Lauren) Foss, and Caleb Foss.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2021 Washington Way, in Longview.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 2067, Longview, WA 98632, Trinity Lutheran Church, or Bethany Lutheran Church, 2900 Parkview Drive, Longview. Blessed be the memory of Pastor Les Foss.