Leslie "Les" Fairbanks, age 62, of Mahnomen, MN, died on Friday, February 7, 2025, at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Leslie Allan Fairbanks was born March 14, 1962, (a PI baby) in Kenosha, WI, to Lewis and Merle (Mortenson) Fairbanks.  He attended St. John's School for the Deaf in Milwaukee, WI, superseded with Minnesota School for the Deaf, graduating in 1979. While there, Les blossomed into an outstanding student as evidenced by skipping 2 grades. He also played a role in the school's football team achieving the National Deaf Football Championship in 1977 and was named All-American as a center.  Les continued his education at Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C., and Bemidji State University.

At the age of 16, Les worked for a camp in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), for which he worked on and off the next 12 years. While there, he learned quite a bit from his superiors, namely Jim Cherry and Jim Wiinanen. Maintenance aside, Les also assisted in fighting forest fires along with several major projects.

In 1985, Les moved to Texas, for a short time before returning to Minnesota. He started Les' Marine and four years later, took a job with the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen.  He was employed at the casino for seven years before transitioning to the trucking industry.  His career in transportation began hauling sugar beets and eventually led to 17 years with Mark Trnka Auto Transport, based in Mahnomen. While there, in collaboration with the NAD (National Association of the Deaf), he advocated for reforming the USDOT policy regarding the "whisper test " requirements. In 2013, that requirement was abolished and to date, around 700 deaf individuals now are employed as semi-truck drivers. That number is expected to increase in the future as well.

In 2019, then Governor Walz appointed Les as the NW representative to the MN Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Board until he resigned in 2023.   Les was also a proud member of the White Earth Ojibwa Nation.

Preceding him in death are his parents; one brother, Kim; two sisters, Denise Vargason and Michelle Olson and great buddy, Jeffrey Aarness. Les is survived by his wife, Linda; sisters, Dawn (Rev. Paul) Larson of Detroit Lakes, MN, Sheree Keprios of Mahnomen, Dana (Randy) Johnson of Hibbing, MN; brothers, Clay (Toni) Fairbanks of Ogema, and Craig (Pam) Fairbanks of Waubun; several nieces, nephews, and great  nieces and nephews, in addition to several terriers, including Sam.

Les wishes to thank the Dialysis Team of White Earth for their care and patience, Hospice of the Red River Valley, and the friends who have visited me at the end of my journey thru life.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 1- 3 pm at the White Earth Community Center.  All are welcome.