Bruce Michael Lehto

Bruce Michael Lehto, 75, of DeRidder, LA, passed from this life on Saturday, July 27, 2024.

Bruce was born in DeRidder, Louisiana on April 18, 1949 to Hugh John Lehto and Velma Rae Lewis in DeRidder, Louisiana, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 51 Years, Cora Lehto; daughter Michelle Lehto; son Erik Lehto (wife Tiffany); grandson Blake Hollis; sister Johnna Husarek (Robert); brothers Brian Lehto and John Lehto; cousin/Brothers Lynn Thompson (T. Lynn) and Tommy Thompson (Bobbie); many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Bruce held many positions throughout his working life. He started in eighth grade with a paper route that he did every morning before school. He saved his money and bought himself a moped to make it faster to do his paper route. As a teenage boy he was a bagger at Hardings grocery store.

He attended Western Michigan University before transferring to McNeese University.

While at Western Michigan he worked nights at Brunswick where he made school chairs.

He was going back to Michigan to continue studying at Western Michigan University when he received word that his number had been called for the draft so he enlisted instead.

He loved to hunt and fish with his cousins and friends and was a life long member of the Free Masons.  He was instrumental in starting the Rosepine Volunteer Fire Dept and worked with the Rosepine Sewer Department.  He was a Fireman at Fort Polk for several years.

He spent the majority of his career as a Soil Conservationist for the USDA. While there he started out as a technician and worked his way up to the Area Conservationists for the Southwest Area of Louisiana. Bruce retired from there on June 5, 2005. He was with the SCS for roughly 25 Years.

Through out his life time Bruce always tried to be the best at all things he chose to do. He received many awards and accolades for his achievements.

His many craft projects included carving duck decoys. He won the first-place award as a novice for miniature duck decoys. He then began carving full size decoys.

Anytime he was in the woods, by a fallen tree, he was always on the lookout for walking sticks or handle material. His goal was to collect one from every species of wood in Louisiana.

He wasn’t finished with his career so he decided to go into real estate sales. He worked at that for a couple of years. He was awarded the Realtor of the Year for the DeRidder Fort Polk area in 2010. Shortly after that he “fired” himself from real estate to concentrate on “retired life”. He bought a motor cycle and began a new chapter of his life. He and a group of buddies would go off on adventures to various states. Life was good. Cora retired in 2012 and she refused to ride a two-wheeler with him, so they bought a trike. Many memories were made as they traveled with Lynn and Lynn Thompson and Tommy and Bobbie Thompson. They traveled all over the western part on the United States. Bruce loved the adventure. After neck surgery he sold his trike and concentrated on other hobbies.

He wasn’t really retired though, he started making wine from all on the fruits that he grew on his place. After a few years, he grew tired of that so he got rid of all his wine making equipment and enjoyed life on the back porch along with raised bed gardening.

He loved Bluegrass music so he started making mandolins. With the help of Lynn Thompson, he completed a mandolin for himself, children, and grandson.

Cancer struck on July 20, 2022. Bruce put up a good fight. He never gave up and always had a word of encouragement for others.  His favorite saying was: “Nobody’s getting out of this world alive.”

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 29, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Myers Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA. Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, July 30, 2024 also at Myers Colonial Funeral Home. Brother Bill Smith and Brother Paul Massey will officiate the service. Pallbearers will be family and friends.  Burial will follow at Rosepine Cemetery in Rosepine, LA.