Lester "Les" B. Dittrich

Lester (Les) Bernard Dittrich, age 86, of Mankato, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2026, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Eagle's Nest in Eagle Lake, Minnesota. Woodland Hills Funeral Home of Mankato is assisting the family with arrangements. www.woodlandhillsfh.com

Les was born September 22, 1939, in New Ulm, Minnesota, to John and Emma (Kretsch) Dittrich, the second youngest of seven children. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1957, where he captained the conference championship football team and earned High School All-American honors.

A gifted athlete, Les was inducted into seven athletic halls of fame, including national recognition in racquetball and fastpitch softball. He won six national racquetball championships along with numerous state, regional, and local titles. He was also widely known for his role on the Mankato fastpitch softball teams of the 1970s and 1980s that captured multiple Minnesota state championships and competed nationally.

In 1959, Les married his high school sweetheart, Kay Wiltscheck, and together they raised four children: Scott, Michael, Kimberly, and David. He was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. One of the greatest tragedies of his life was the loss of his daughter, Kim, in a car accident at age 16. Les and Kay divorced in 1982. In 2002, he married Jackie Sellner; they later divorced in 2024.

Les was best known as the owner of the Eagle's Nest in Eagle Lake for 26 years. He purchased the business in 1976, and it remains in the family under the ownership of his son, Dave. He loved people, golf, and community service. He served as president of the Minnesota Racquetball Association, was a charter member of the Eagle Lake Lions Club, and served as president of the Mankato Golf Club. He volunteered with the Red Cross, VINE, and the ECHO Food Shelf, where he also served on the Board of Directors.

In 1999, Les and his son Mike bicycled 1,786 miles from Eagle Lake to Washington, D.C., raising funds for the Minnesota Cancer Society.

Despite significant health challenges later in life, Les maintained his generous spirit. After one visit to the Mayo Clinic, a nurse told him, “God doesn’t want you, the devil doesn’t want you, and you have work to do.” Though not a religious man, Les never forgot those words. They became a guiding reminder of the kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness he shared with others throughout his life.

Les is survived by Kay Dittrich, his first wife and the mother of his children; his sons, Scott (Lana), Michael, and David; grandchildren Angela (Jacob) Hardy, Jared Kessler, and Anna Kessler; great-grandchildren Emma, Tyler, and William; former wife Jackie; stepchildren Shane (Jess) Sellner, Kari Weber, Tara (Brandon) Swalve, and Jason (Heather) Sellner; and sisters Agnes (Bill) Griffiths, Alice (Denny) Blomquist, and Darlene (Tom) Gleisner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Stan and Leo; sister Lorraine; and his beloved daughter, Kim.