Lloyd Edwin Lee, 83

Lloyd Edwin Lee passed away Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, after a long battle with Parkinson’s.

Lloyd’s parents, Levi and Laura Lee, proudly welcomed him into the world Aug. 12, 1933, at their family home in Deer Park, Washington, where they would continue to raise their family until moving to the town of Algona, Washington. As the eldest of four children, Lloyd was a loyal and caring brother to his siblings, Ava, Don and Joni. He graduated from Auburn High School in Auburn, Washington, then married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Elaine Damgaard, in 1953. Soon after, he enlisted in U.S. Army and served for four years during the Korean War.

Lloyd and Marilyn moved to Enumclaw, Washington, in 1964 where they purchased 10 acres and built their family home to raised their three children, Terri, Mike and Jim. Lloyd was a deacon at Country Bible Church in Enumclaw where he and Marilyn attended and actively served as youth ministers for several years, positively impacting the lives of youth in the community. Lloyd worked for Boeing for many years before beginning his career as a purchaser with the King County Parks Department. He later continued his career as a purchaser with S & S Campers after moving to Montana.

Lloyd fell in love with the slower, simpler Montana way of life and was able to purchase 39 acres in Kila with his wife, Marilyn, where they began to build their new family home in 1978. His enthusiasm for Montana was contagious and within a few years, all three of their children as well as Lloyd’s parents had moved to live the Montana dream with them. Lloyd and Marilyn lived together in their Kila home, worshiping and serving at Easthaven Baptist Church and Kila Country Church until Marilyn’s death in 2007. Lloyd then continued life in that home until health issues made it necessary for him to move closer to town and eventually to the Montana Veterans Home.

Lloyd was preceded in death by Marilyn, his wife of 54 years, his son Mike in 2014, and his parents, Levi and Laura Lee.

Lloyd is survived and lovingly remembered by his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Tracy Lee; his daughter and son-in-law, Terri and Mike Bray; and daughter-in-law Jamie Grob. His 10 grandchildren and their spouses, who gave him 20 great-grandchildren, will always remember him as an excellent hunter, woodworker and patient teacher.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to those at the Montana Veterans Home for all their love and dedication in caring for Lloyd during his stay there.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.