After thirty years, to the day, Dorothy Soper was finally reunited with the love of her life. Les Soper, 89, a life long resident of Marysville, WA passed away quickly and peacefully on April 9, 2011 with his loving family by his side. He was born in the family home at Soper Hill Road on January 13, 1922 and was the son of Charles and Grace Soper.

He grew up learning a rock solid work ethic and at the age of 14 started driving the school bus for Marysville School as the last student on the route. He also worked with his father at the family mill and shingle business, which was located at Kruse Junction in north Marysville.

Les joined the Navy during WWII as a Seaman First Class and served on the USS Petrof Bay as a member of the gun crew. During his service he helped make naval history in the South Pacific theater and participated in several famous battles including the landings of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the second battle of the Philippines where the Petrof Bay barely escaped four suicide planes and several torpedo attacks. The ship remained the only escort carrier engaged in the battles to emerge unscathed.

Les returned to Washington and met Dorothy Olson in a malt shop where she worked in Yakima during his training trips to the area. They started dating, eventually married in 1946 and shortly thereafter started a family.

After the war Les worked for several local businesses before opening Les Soper Chevron in 1954 on the corner of 3rd and State in Marysville and also drove a tow truck at night for Hammerly’s Towing. In the early 1960’s he moved the station to Grove and State and concurrently opened Soper Towing, which he owned and operated until retirement at the spry age of 82. He was known as an honest and hard working businessman, fixer of anything, loyal and generous friend and loving family man.

Throughout life Les enjoyed the annual Marysville Strawberry Parade, traveling to Montana and other local destinations in his Winnebago club, the San Juanderers. His passion in life and favorite time of year was the fall elk hunting season. He began the tradition in 1948 with his father and it has continued to present day with over sixty family members and friends traveling to the same camping site to hike the same draws as those who came before them. Those who knew Les knew him as a pioneer of Marysville, an icon in the community and an ElkDuck legend. 

Les is survived by his three children and their families, Leon and Leslie Soper, Linda and Tom St. Onge, and Patti and Dennis Roodzant; eight grandchildren, Aaron, Jessie, Anna, Charlie, Leon, Roger, Kaitlin and Vance; and three great grandchildren, Novalee, Andrew and Lauren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Grace; his wife, Dorothy; brother, Neil; and sister, Norma.

Thank you to Pat Hartman and the aides at Compassionate Care in Marysville, Dory, Brenda, Pam and Nicole. We appreciate you taking care of our Dad as you would have cared for your own. You made his last few years comfortable and enjoyable. 

As a Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, any kindness in Les’s honor is greatly appreciated. Donations can be sent to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Attn: Michelle Tucker, 5705 Grant Creek, Missoula, MT 59808.