Lester Dwight Hash

Lester Dwight Hash, Retired Major of the Kansas City Police Department, 83, of Smithville, MO passed away on July 17, 2021.

Service will be held at the Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 and 291 Hwy (southwest corner) in Liberty, MO on Thursday, July 22. Visitation will be held from noon until 2 pm, with the funeral following at 2 pm. Burial at the Smithville Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the KCPD Care Team.

Lester was born on September 28, 1937 to Weldon Alex and Lue Bell (Melott) Hash who resided on a farm near Cogar, Oklahoma. He was a proud member of the Potawatomi Nation. In June 1952, they moved to Oklahoma City, OK, where Lester graduated from Capitol Hill High School in May 1955. He then entered the U.S. Army for three years, being discharged in June 1958 as a Sergeant.

Lester moved to Kansas City, MO where he became a member of the Kansas City Police Department in March 1960, and remained until July 1988, retiring at the rank of Major. He enjoyed working with victims and helping new officers to develop. He said the most tragic event he worked was the Hyatt skywalk collapse. Lester then went to the KCI police department as acting Chief, where he remained nearly two years reorganizing the department. In 1993 he became a special US Marshal, working at the US Courthouse in Security until 1999 when he finally retired.

In 1960, Lester met and married his wife Hazel Marie Montgomery on November 19th. They were blessed with three daughters, Gwendolyn Maria, Linda Kay and Kimberlea Diane. He always tried to assist them in any way possible before and after they married.

Lester is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Weldon and Dennis Hash; and granddaughter Rebecca Lynn Marie Roche. He is survived by his wife, Marie; daughters, Gwendolyn M. Roche (Patrick), Linda K. Robinson (Frank) and Kimberlea D. Rauzi (Patrick); grandchildren, Jillian M. Sloggett (Geoffery), Emily A. Miller (Sean) and Joshua N. Rauzi; great grandchildren, Seamus, Teagan and Maeve Miller and Addison and Colton Sloggett; brother-in-law, Glen (Joyce) Montgomery; sisters-in-law, Patty Montgomery, Jean (Dennis) Adamson and Mary Finkenbiner; and many nieces and nephews.

Lester was a member of the Grace Community Baptist Church in Smithville, MO. He was known for helping others when he could. He enjoyed woodworking and liked to make miniature log structures and furnishings, and would enter them into state and county fairs. He liked to joke about missing some courses in grade school because he would pay $10 to enter and win only $6 if he got first place.

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department will provide an honor guard. Honorary pallbearers are John Cowdrey, Patrick Roche, Frank Robinson, Geoffery Sloggett, Sean Miller, Gerald O’Donnell.

Lester felt it was a blessing to have served three years in the US Army and 36 years in the police workforce. He made a difference.

You may share a message with the family or sign an online guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com. Arrangements: Park Lawn Northland Chapel (816) 781-8228.

Service will be held at the Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 and 291 Hwy (southwest corner) in Liberty, MO on Thursday, July 22. Visitation will be held from noon until 2 pm, with the funeral following at 2 pm. Burial at the Smithville Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the KCPD Care Team.