Uncle Lester (Lester Drotts) found joy in the little things of life, such as wooden toys, games, and Christmas.  He also had a vision of creating a word game and to this he dedicated 20 years. Though not living to see his vision completed, his word games live on! Lester grew up on a small farm in northern Minnesota with his parents and three sisters (one of them his twin).  He left Minnesota for Trinity College in Deerfield, Il (now called Trinity International University) and then stayed there for Trinity Divinity School.  After graduation, Lester became the Director of Financial Aid at Trinity College.  He also served in that capacity at Heritage Christian Schools in Milwaukee, WI and at Judson College, Elgin, Il. Les never married and never served as a pastor of a church.  However, he was always the friend and "chaplain as needed" of the students at the colleges he served.  He usually bypassed the staff lounge to eat and spend time with the students.

Christmas was the highlight of Lester's year.  Every inch of his apartment was decorated; he made Christmas cookies by the hundreds of dozens and invited staff, faculty, students and family to his apartment during the Christmas season.  He did, in fact, have only two seasons of the year––Christmas, and not Christmas.

Lester also loved wood games, toys, and puzzles and had a massive collection in his second bedroom, appropriately nicknamed "the toy room".  He'd say, "Toys are meant to be played with" so everyone loved going to his place.  His will divided these games between his six nieces and nephews.......thanks, Uncle Lester!

Words have always been a great fascination to Les.  He started  making his word games in the 1980's and had put unnumbered hours into this vision---categorizing and leveling words, developing the rules, making the game board by hand etc.  But he passed away in February 2000 without completing his game.

At his funeral service many of his friends told the family "Please don't let his game die."  And thanks to the dedication and heart of his sister Ruby, his word games live on!