George Douglas Lee

Obituary

George Douglas Lee was born on November 6, 1931, in Grygla, Beltrami County, Minnesota.  He was the son of Harland and Anna (Hanson) Lee. George was the fourth of their twelve children.  He was baptized and later confirmed as a youth in the Lutheran faith.  George attended Big Grass Country School and worked on the family farm.  George also obtained his certificate at St. Paul College (formerly St. Paul Vocational School) for Tool & Die.

George entered active military service in the United States Army on August 19, 1952 and served his country during the Korean War.  He received an Occupational Medal and National Defense Service Medal.  George was Honorably Discharged on July 30, 1954.

On March 26, 1955, George was united in marriage to LaVonne Lappegaard in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with seven children, Kevin, Daryl, Jeffery, Darwin, Dena, Jonathan, and Tracy. George and LaVonne resided in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and later moved to Hutchinson in 1967. They shared 61 years of marriage.

George was employed at 3M for 25 years as a Tool & Die Maker.   He retired in 1992. George was a life member of the Hutchinson American Legion Post #96, Hutchinson VFW Post #906, and was also an active member for the 49 years he resided in Hutchinson, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson.  

George’s many hobbies included gardening, woodworking in his shop, traveling, and restoring his father’s 1938 Oliver tractor.  He was the go-to guy for advice on fixing just about anything.  George loved people and welcomed everyone he met as if they were family.  He was an honest and sincere man, for which all that knew him respected and admired him.  He was especially committed to his family and enjoyed spending time with them. 

George passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 9, 2016, surrounded by family at his home in Hutchinson, at the age of 84 years.

He will be dearly missed.

George is survived by his: 
Spouse, LaVonne Lee, of Hutchinson, MN; 
Children, Kevin Lee, of Seward, AK, 
                  Daryl Lee, of Shakopee, MN,
                  Jeffery Lee and his wife, Paula, of Rapid City, SD
                  Darwin Lee and his wife, Jo Ann, of Minneapolis, MN,
                  Dena Lee and David Williams, of North Branch, MN,
                  Jonathan Lee and his wife, Martha, of Anchorage, AK,
                  Tracy Lee of Easton, MD;
Grandchildren, Anna Lee Mullikin (Martin), Nathan Lee (Brittny Garrett), Kristian Lee (Jennifer LeDoux), Ilsa Lee, Hannah Lee, Jenna Lee, Wyatt Lee, Ryan Lee and Cody Lee;
Great Grandchildren, Bentley, Aubrey and Haydn;
Siblings, Delilah Anderson, of Kalona, IA,
                 Jeanne Brenna, of Cloquet, MN,
                 Kenneth Lee, of Grygla, MN,
                 Vernon Lee and his wife, Arlene, of Cloquet, MN,
                 Ralph Lee, of Grygla, MN,
                 Gerald Lee and his wife, Betty, of Grand Marais, MN,
                 Judith Kotrba and her husband, Duane, of Thief River, MN,
                 Leland Lee and his wife, Carol, of St. Cloud, MN;
Sister-In-Law, Myrtle Lee, of  Thief River Falls, MN;
All of his Lappegaard family and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

George is preceded in death by his Parents, Harland and Anna Lee; Brothers, Harland Lee Jr., and Earl Lee; Sister, Cerise Swanson Luhning; Daughter-In-Law, Patti Lee; Brothers-In-Law, Theodore Anderson, Russell Brenna and Don Swanson; Nephews, Ernest Anderson and Lynn Lee.

Memorials preferred to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Allina Health Hospice in Hutchinson.  Online Obituaries and Guest Book available at hantge.com.  Please click on Obituaries/Guest Book.