Maurice Lefever, 93, longtime area resident, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2024, with family by his side.

Maurice was born on December 3, 1930 in a farmhouse in rural Boulder County to two Belgian immigrants, Adolph and Bertha (Carton) Lefever.  His maternal grandmother, Florence Carton, lived with the family and was instrumental in raising Maurice to be the man that he was.

Maurice was raised with two brothers, George and Henry, and one sister, Mary. The family moved to a farm in Longmont where Maurice learned the skill of farming from his father. The silo he helped build as a youngster on the family farm is still standing strong and is the sole vestige of the original farmstead. It is part of Oskar Blues restaurant/brewery at the corner of Hwy 119 and Hover Road. It was in this silo that Maurice raised many, many rabbits to help support the family.

Maurice attended grade school in Longmont, with only 5 other kids in his class. He enjoyed playing marbles until the nuns took his marbles away, calling it gambling, so he had to resort to playing jacks with the girls.  His formal education ended in 8th grade when his mother dropped him off at school one fall day after beet harvest had ended.  The noise of the school bell made him realize he did not want to be there, so he walked 4 miles home and never went back. His short school education was never a detriment to his success at farming and in business.

He met his future wife, Marlene Pflipsen, at a picnic and they dated for a short time before he decided that, rather than being drafted, he would enlist in the Army, leaving for boot camp the day before Christmas in 1952.  When the Army asked what he was doing before he enlisted, he replied he was fixing an electric fence for the cattle, so they assigned him to be an electrician. He was stationed for 18 months in Okinawa during the Korean War, and also served in the reserves for 6 years. During his time in Okinawa, he and Marlene's relationship grew through the countless love letters they exchanged.

While home on a short leave, he and Marlene got engaged. He returned home to her in November 1954, and in January 1955, they were married in St.  John's Catholic Church in Longmont. They moved to the family farm where he grew up, and that is where they raised their 6 kids. He also raised beets, Coors barley, corn and fed cattle. He worked in the sugar beet factory during the winters to help make ends meet.  He was very particular about having no weeds on his farms- he never planted a single weed, yet he had killed a great many of them!

Needing more acreage, Maurice and Marlene moved the family to Fort Morgan in 1972, where they continued farming and helping the kids with their school activities and numerous 4H projects.  He retired in 1983, but still helped around the farms until 1991.

He was a member of St. Helena's Catholic Church in Fort Morgan, where he lived his life according to his belief in God. He was also a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge.

He got involved in several different ditch companies and water groups, starting  in Longmont for the Clover Basin Ditch. After moving to Fort Morgan, he served as a director, President and Vice- President for many companies, including Fort Morgan Irrigation Company, Jackson Lake Company, Fort Morgan Water Company, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, and Colorado Water Congress.

He was an international man and still has the first 2 tractors he bought new, his 1954-C and the 1956- Int'l 450.

Maurice loved God, his family, and farming. Fishing and camping were favorite pastimes, along with dancing to waltzes and polkas, bowling, trips to Blackhawk, and traveling. Maurice and Marlene traveled to all 50 states and to 19 foreign countries.  He also enjoyed the Amtrak observation car, traveling several times to Wyoming, Montana, and California to where his son was working. In later years, he enjoyed riding his bicycle, and everyone knew who he was by the bright yellow bike and his orange Pioneer coat. He would often ride more than 10 miles a day, and when he finally had to quit riding, his bicycle odometer showed he had ridden the equivalent of 1½  times around the world.

He got his hard work ethic and strong will from his grandmother Florence. To him, things were black or white, right or wrong, there was not ever any gray area. He was a gentle and proud man, a private and quiet man, and led a good clean life. He enjoyed watching the sun rise and set and thanked the Lord for them each day.

Maurice leaves behind children, Ken Lefever (Patty), Cindy Lefever (Terry), Sheri Hulkovich (Kerry) all of Fort Morgan, Randy Lefever (Kris) of Durango, and David Lefever (Kim) of Greeley, 19 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Henry Lefever, many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Marlene, his wife of 63 years, daughter, Debra Lefever, his parents, his sister and one brother.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be Sunday, October 20th at 6:00 p.m. at Heer Mortuary in Fort Morgan.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21st at St. Helena's Catholic Church in Fort Morgan.

There will be private interment in Serenity Falls.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to American Cancer Society.

Condolences can be sent to the family at Heer Mortuary, 225 E. Platte Avenue, Fort Morgan, CO  80701.