Ronald L. Lee

life story

Loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather

Thank You for your Service

About Ron

Ronald Lelan Lee, born at home in Mcleod, ND, May 21, 1937, passed away July 25 2024 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, MN at the age of 87. Ron is survived by his wife Joyce (Staber) and children Eric (Molly) Lee, Dan (Tara) Lee, Matt (Annette) Lee, Annie Lee, grandchildren Clara, Sean, Evie, Alex and Kate.

Ronald is preceded in death by brothers, Richard (Lila) Lee, Rae (Bonnie) Lee and parents Ted and Clara (Kjar) Lee. He also leaves behind a large extended family and many friends.  Ron was in the Navy from June 14th, 1955 and discharged June 3, 1959.  Ron later met Joyce in 1964 as he was working as a farm hand on Joseph and Avis Staber’s farm. Joyce’s parents fell in love with Ron instantly and introduced Joyce to him.  From there Ron successfully won Joyce’s heart and they married in Wyndemere, ND during the fall of 1966.  Ronnie had many interesting jobs, Navy Radio Operator where he used his Morse code skills, farmhand for Joe Staber, he also worked with his brother Rae building Radio Towers across North and South Dakota and Minnesota. He was a Television Engineer at the CBS affiliate in Minot, ND and a contractor at Minot AFB where he repaired radios.  He also had a job repairing Business Band Radios and other small electronics in Detroit Lakes,Mn. Swifts Turkey Plant in Frazee,Mn. and finally he worked for Dean Harstick at Ford Tractor of Vergas MN before he retired.

All of these jobs had some great stories with them. One incident from his Navy days occurred while his ship was docked in Italy. Ron saw a motorcade pull up and stop near his ship. An important looking man and his entourage got out of their limousines. Ron asked out loud wondering who that VIP was. One of the sailors replied, “that’s the Shah of Iran.” Ron also told a story about some time he spent in Paris, France while on shore leave. A friend and he were getting bored with visiting historical sites and so they left the tour group to check out areas of Paris of greater interest to young men such as themselves. One of those times while dad was working for Minot AFB, one of our memories was of dad working at a missile silo site repairing their radios.  Dad told us to stay in the car and he disappeared into one of the buildings.  It was early evening and there were military security walking around the perimeter behind a fence and they were carrying around machine guns(M16’s). It was spooky.  Ronald did do some schooling as well. He attended North Dakota State College of Science for electronic technology and Wadena Technical College learning auto repair.  Other than his family, his greatest passion was working on his 30 acre hobby farm.  He grew fruit trees, Black Walnut and Fir trees.  He grew many berries, grapes, and vegetables. You name it he grew it.  Raspberries so plump the juice would run down your face.  He loved a good beer and listened to 50 and 60s country western music, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and even Janis Joplin.  Ron and his brothers were very athletic and recreated Donald O’Conners’s dance move from Singin’ in the Rain, running up a wall and flipping. He was always there to give a lending hand to friends and family.  He was a listener, a jokester, always a silly face and loved by many.  He would travel with his family camping and later with the grand children and the dogs.  As Ron grew older he decided shaving was for the birds. When he first started growing a long beard at Thanksgiving the grand children made jokes about him looking like Santa Claus.  Ronnie Lee had a full and memorable life and will be missed.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

September 7, 2024

The Lee Farm @ 37690 county highway 36 Frazee, MN

Bring your stories, memories, tall tales of Ronnie Lee’s life. Please bring lawn chairs if you have them, tents if you want to stay over, I’m sure there will be a fire at night, and Kleenex if you need them. We will be having a pig roasting and other food as well. Please let us know if you are able to join. Text or call 612-636-4750