Pastor Les Alder
On July 18, 2024, at the age of 94, John Leslie Alder went home to be with his best friend, Jesus.
Les was born September 2, 1929 in Crystal City Manitoba to Carmen and Laura (Mack) Alder.
He was the 3rd oldest of 9 children and grew up on the family farm near Mather Manitoba.
Along with his siblings Les attended the Graham school through grade 8 and then to Crystal City for high school.
Les drove a cream truck to earn money for Bible School. He attended Winnipeg Bible Institute from 1948 -1950. It was there that he first saw the love of his life singing in the choir. To help with expenses Les work for CN Rail, a job that he loved very much. He worked at Crescent Creamery and as a car mechanic for a time.
Les and Eileen were married on September 16, 1950 in Winnipeg. They then went to Edmonton to attend Northwest Bible College. Upon graduation they went into full time ministry.
Over those years they served in Alberta, several places in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Iowa and Nebraska USA.
Along with their family they lead evangelistic services from 1976-1981 while Les worked for Alder Brother’s Glass.
Les and Eileen enjoyed a few years of retirement helping out around Manhattan Beach Retreat Centre, enjoying their little cabin on the lake there and going back and forth between Manitoba and BC. Les and Eileen shared 56 years of marriage until Eileen’s death in December of 2006.
Les met his second sweetheart, Elsie Dornian in Souris Manitoba in 2008. They were married in August of 2010 and enjoyed 11 years together on an acreage west of Souris until Elsie’s death in 2021.
Les first felt his calling to ministry at Manhattan Beach Retreat Centre, then know as Manhattan Beach Camp as a teenager. He fulfilled that calling over the next seventy plus years. In between times he enjoyed tinkering in his shop, building machines, fixing broken things to be better than when they were new, making “things”, leather work, wood work, building and repairing buildings. When Les realized that he needed a forge he decided to build one. The same happened when he needed tools for his lathe, he just made them. Along with his welder and many other tools, he repaired and built many things around the acreage that he spent his final years on. He has left his finger print in many places. The thing that he loved best was telling people about Jesus which he was busy doing up to the day before his death. His heart desire was for everyone to know Jesus. He must have left his print on your life too or you wouldn’t be here today. He would say to you, “Jesus Loves You my friend.”
Les is survived by his children, Ruth (Mark) Tombs, Lynne (Larry) VanBeek, Carole (Mike) Baker. Grandchildren, Matthew (Amy) Tombs, Sarah (Chris) Gonzalez, Lauren VanBeek, Takara Baker, Tanya Baker, Harley Baker, William Baker and great grandchild, Emma Tombs.
Brother’s, Gordon (Lorretta) Alder, Lloyd (Sheila) Alder, Roy (Anne) Alder, Ron Alder and One Sister Joyce (Norman) Mitchell and numerous nephews and nieces.
Les was predeceased by his Parents, Wife Eileen and Wife Elsie, Brothers Garth Alder and Tom Alder. Brother- in – law Eddie Canfield. Sister – Kaye Canfield. Sister – in – laws Myrtle Alder, Ester Alder and Ardella Alder.
In memory of Les, donations may be made to MBRC Box 62, Ninette, Manitoba R0K 1R0 or to ERDO 2450 Miltower Court, Mississauga Ontario, L5N 5Z6.
A memorial service was held at My Church Winnipeg 955 Wilkes Avenue, Winnipeg on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Also a memorial service was held at Faith Community Baptist Church, Souris, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Private interment in the Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg. I
Sad to hear of Les passing away. He has always said when God calls him he will is ready. Such a positive and very kind man he was. I always enjoyed my visits with him, My condolences, Sincerely So Sorry: Mary Ann Carlisle
Our deepest condolences.
Terry still remembers the Alder family serving in the Carman Pentecostal Church. They were lifelong friends of his parents and became friends with us as well. We had many wonderful visits at camp. His passion and love for Jesus and people was inspirational to us. Our condolences to the three girls and their families.
Our hearts go out to all of you for the passing of Les. He was such a great guy. Enjoyed our chats. He was always encouraging and kind. Until we all meet again dear Les, rest in peace.
I was sitting thinking about pastor les and his wife Eileen, how blessed we were meeting them
I met Pastor Les in his church on Elgin in Winnipeg in 1988, I had not been to church for many years, as I was listening to his sermon it touched my heart and I started to cry, at the end of church he came over and talked with me, he asked where my husband was, I told him home with our children, he asked are you married?
I said no
He said do you want to go to Hell or Heaven?
I said Heaven of course, so a few short months later, after he met my soon-to-be husband we were married, and we had a church wedding, we didn’t pay a thing, Pastor Alder and his wife and family attended they made my wedding cake and all the flowers, We have been married for 36 years, and the last time we seen him and his wife was around 1998 in Calvary Temple Native Church, I always thought about this family both I and my husband how blessed we were, when the lord brings someone into your life it’s for a reason.
Pastor Les and his family left a huge imprint on our lives.
Until we meet again