Lester J. Behrns, 82, Wabasha

 Lester J. Behrns, age 82, a lifelong resident of Wabasha, died Thursday, December 1, 2016 at St. Elizabeth’s Health Care Center in Wabasha where he had resided the past six weeks. His death was due to cancer. Les was born August 20, 1934 on the family farm just outside of Wabasha, the son of Ezra “Pat” and Caroline (Schuth) Behrns. He lived and farmed on the family farm nearly his entire life. He was united in marriage to Shirley Dammann July 18, 1959 at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha.
 He went to school at the local rural school house until the 8th grade. Shortly after that, he took over the family dairy farm from his father at the age of 16. He continued the dairy farming until he retired from that in the early 1980’s. He then continued to farm the land up to his final days.
 He joined and served in the U.S. Army Reserves with the 544th Ordnance Division located in Wabasha in 1957. He was called into active duty in 1961 in response to the Berlin Crisis in Europe. He went to basic training in Maryland and was serving in Louisiana in preparation for deployment to Europe. After returning home he continued in the Army Reserves for a few more years. While serving in the Reserves he gained an interest in guns. After returning home from his active duty he started a hobby of fixing and building guns. It only took a short time and he opened up Les’s Gun Repair in the basement of his home where he bought, traded, fixed and sold guns. He especially loved and collected the Winchester gun and anything that was associated to the Winchester brand. He had one of the finest Winchester collections of guns and memorabilia. In 1970 he put an addition onto the home so he could exhibit his collection and continue his expanding gun business. He eventually put his collection into the Arrowhead Bluffs Museum located on the family farm and it was opened to the public in 1986. He and the Behrns family owned and operated the museum for 26 years. He was known to many as the man of Winchesters.
 Lester was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He had spent many autumns on hunting trips throughout North America from the Arctic down to the southern states hunting big game. He especially loved traveling the north country of Alaska and Canada hunting wild sheep located high in the mountains. He was a member of the Wild Sheep Foundation of Cody, WY for many years. He was also a member of the Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation and served eight years on its Board of Directors. He also was a longtime member of the Wabasha American Legion Post #50. In his later years, he and Shirley enjoyed travelling and spending time at their property in Cody, WY. He always enjoyed his daily group therapy sessions at the Eagles Landing Café or the Eagle’s Nest Coffee House in Wabasha where Lester always had a story or an experience to share.
 Les is survived by his wife, Shirley Behrns, Wabasha, MN; son and daughter-in-law, John and Monica Behrns, Wabasha, MN; daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Ernie Kranz, Wabasha, MN; three grandchildren, Kristian Morton, Kerri Reese and Tami Schmidt; four great-grandchildren, Taeryn, Jaxson, Adelyn and Kinley; sisters and brother-in-law, Marie Rowekamp, Buffalo, NY, Dorine and Don Classen, Richfield, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pat and Caroline Behrns and his brother-in-law, Elmer Rowekamp.
 A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth’s Community Development Foundation, 1200 5th Grant Blvd. W., Wabasha, MN 55981. The Abbott Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com