George R. Lee

George Lee, age 93, of Litchfield died on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at Beckville Lutheran Church in rural Litchfield. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Monday, January 13, 2014 at the Johnson Hagglund Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Beckville Lutheran Church cemetery. George Reynold Lee was born in Litchfield on February 22, 1920. His parents were Frank and Lillie (Nygren) Lee. He grew up on the family farm just south of Strout with his two brothers and three sisters. George was baptized and confirmed at Beckville Lutheran Church. He was a life time member of Beckville. George attended school through the eighth grade at the District 78 country school, not far from the home farm. He worked hard on the farm and then after having back surgery chose to change professions and drive gravel truck for Barton Construction. He worked on many road construction projects all around the state of Minnesota. While he was working in the Kenyon area, he met the love of his life, Elaine Helland, at the restaurant she worked at and he became a regular at. They married on February 28, 1954 at Hauge Lutheran Church in Kenyon. During the early years of marriage, they traveled together to constructions sites and started their family. They shared 49 years of marriage together, always as each other's best friend. They purchased the Litchfield Trailer Court and made Litchfield their permanent home, raising five children here. He sold the trailer court and then George started his own gravel hauling and ag lime spreading business and continued until he was 82 years old. He loved visiting with all his customers and going out for coffee at Swans to visit with the guys. He and Elaine especially loved driving around the country side and enjoying each other's company. Family was very important to George. He loved spending time with his children, teaching them mechanics and what he did. He was very proud of all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visits from them always brought a smile to his face. George also enjoyed helping Elaine with her daycare children. Many a days you would find him after lunch napping in the lazy-boy with children sleeping in his arms. George enjoyed reading and he and Elaine traveled to Texas and Oregon to visit their son Phillip several times. George is survived by his sons, Phillip Lee of Aloha, OR, Gary (Judy) Lee, Bruce (Priscilla) Lee of Litchfield and Dwayne (Tammy) Lee of Rochester, MN and daughter, Kathy (Jon) Koepp of Litchfield. Grandchildren, Mike (Amy) Lee, Lisa Lee, Jay (Natalie) Koepp, Julius (Maureen) Koepp, Douglas Lee, David Lee, Daniel Lee, Rachel Lee and Elena Lee Great-Grandchildren: Josh Koepp, Emma Koepp, Berlinn Koepp, Reagan Koepp, Ethan Lee, Logan Lee, Tiana Lee and Phoebe Lee, brother Paul Lee and sister Mildred Witte, many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, his parents, daughter-in-law Patricia Huff, brother Vincent (Lorraine) Lee and sisters, Annette (William) Rittgers, Violet (Milton) Schilling and Alice Lee, sisters-in law Alphie Lee and Marian Helland and brothers-in law Wendell Witte and Curtiss Helland. Memorials are requested to the Beckville Lutheran Church cemetery association or memorial fund. Previous Events Visitation Monday, January 13, 2014 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Tuesday, January 14, 2014 11:00 AM Beckville Lutheran Church 20521 600th Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355