This is a re-release of episode 14 from 2019 with Les LePere. Les passed away last August and we just found out about it. We thought it would be fitting to re-release the episode.

The following was published by Spokesman-Review on Aug. 18, 2024.

He always had a good story to tell: "stop me if I've already told you this, but even if I have, a good story is worth hearing again". His story was often accompanied by a pencil drawing to help expand the narrative.

After taking a photo of Leslie in his studio, Del Lusk notated the print with: "Out in the rolling wheat country near Harrington Washington, Leslie LePere lives and works at the job he was born to do, tending the 3000-acre wheat ranch that has been in the family for 80 years. He enjoys the work and the challenge. He calls it playing in the dirt. But in his off hours he'll be in his studio in the home his parents built, living his alternate life as an artist, playing with pencils, probably colored ones."

In the autumn of 1964 "I started early, left the farm, took my pencils and went to WSU".* While there Leslie met fellow art student Ken Cory. The pair adopted the moniker "Pencil Brothers". They engineered elaborate art-related shenanigans that produced laughs as well as awe. Their serious art collaborations were often champlevé enamel and pencil drawings. They produced pins, light switch plates, frames, belt buckles, necklaces, and a set of silver self-portrait salt and pepper shakers, to name a few.

Leslie earned a Master's degree in fine arts and headed north. "All signs pointed clearly to a fork in road".* He took the road to Seattle, where he began his series of 4 x 4 drawings in ink and colored pencil, completing over 50. All of his work was intricate, provocative, and told stories. He illustrated numerous posters and pamphlets including the first Seattle Bumbershoot poster, Fat Tuesday festival in Seattle, an Olympic Music Festival, a musical event at Chateaux St. Michelle, and covers for the Seattle Weekly. He also began creating book covers for Tom Robbins, beginning with "Still Life with Woodpecker".

"Followed the dotted line, collected objects, worked magic."* in 1981 Leslie returned to the family farm to work with his father, uncles and cousins. He farmed by day, made drawings at night. He illustrated posters for Inland Craft Warnings, a Spokane Symphony concert in Manito Park, concerts at the Mielke barn, a cover for a community cookbook (Harrington Cooks), labels for Buckeye Beans, Aunt Patsy's Pasta, Four Seasons Coffee and later Roam Roasters, the Electric Hotel, the Post & Office and countless letterheads, logos and stationery for friends and businesses. In 2013 he had a retrospective of his work at the Jundt Art Museum on the Gonzaga University campus. He partnered with his dear friend Charlie King to establish Sandy Parr, where they collaborated to design commemorative pins, and ball markers for golf tournaments and courses, and special events such as the grand reopening of the Fox theater and an Inland Craft Warnings anniversary.

In 1990 he met Eva Simova. They enjoyed redecorating the farmhouse together, cooking elaborate meals, laughing with abandon, and traveling. They travelled to Eva's birthplace in the Czech Republic to be married and wandered around Italy together. Their travels inspired many pieces in his later series of 6 x 6 works. Eva died in 2011.

Ten years ago, Leslie retired from farming, leaving the working of the family farm to great friends and great farmers, Ron and Linda Mielke. This gave him more time to hone his cooking skills, enjoying time in his country kitchen cooking with, and for friends.

Poor health slowed his studio and kitchen work down the past year but note that the day before entering the hospital for the final time, for his own enjoyment, he made a batch of manicotti, from scratch.

Many generous Harrington friends gave their time and transportation to help him in his last months of living at home. Some of his closest friends travelled from far and wide to see him when it became apparent, he was declining. The final 2 months of his life were spent in the home of his niece, Chemyn Kodis, his time guided under the expert support of Hospice of Spokane.

His way with words, his ability to hold a pencil, enjoy a good meal and give a firm handshake stayed with him to his final day.

His ashes were scattered on the family farm, with all the airdales he had so dearly loved.

Leslie William LePere was born on May 26, 1946, to Alice and Eldon LePere, joining his sister Louise to complete their family.
 

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