Lee, Elliott C. 1920-2008

LEE, THOMPSON, BROWN

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/22/2008 at 10:14:58

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, September 17, 2008

Elliott C. Lee, 87, of Spirit Lake, died Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake.

Elliott Clayton Lee was born Nov. 15, 1920, in Jordan Township, near Soldier, the son of Elmer and Anna Thompson Lee.

Elliott attended school in Soldier, graduating with the class of 1939. He then went on to further his education at Grand Island School of Business. Upon completion, he worked as deputy county recorder at Onawa.

Elliott was united in marriage to Marjorie Brown on Jan. 31, 1942, in Blair, Neb. In December 1942, he entered the U.S. Air Force. After training in Florida, Massachusetts, Long Island and Kansas, he left from Newport News, Va., for India and Tinian. By the time of his discharge in 1945, he had gone around the world in almost three years.

Elliott worked for the American Popcorn Company, both in Sioux City and Schaller. In 1950, he began his banking career with the State Bank of Schaller, living there until 1962, when he moved to Cherokee for one years. In January 1964, the family moved to Le Mars, where he spent the next 19 years at First National Bank.

During Elliott's working years, he was active in communities serving offices on church boards, chamber boards, council, American Legion, Sertoma, school boards, Western Hills Area 12 board and bank audit groups.

After 50 years of marriage, he and Marj took a trip back to the eastern part of the United States, visiting several locations where Elliott had been during his time in the service.

Elliott was an avid lover of sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes, where if possible he followed their games faithfully via television. During winters spent in Arizona, he was able to attend several Iowa Bowl Games. He also enjoyed woodworking and playing bridge.

Elliott is survived by a son, Michael Lee, and his wife, Judy, and their children, Derek and Dan, all of Spirit Lake; a sister, Janet Sanford and her husband, Bill, of Carroll; a brother-in-law, Wayne Brown of Le Mars; a sister-in-law, Barbara Brown of Laguna Hills, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marjorie; a daughter, Karen Beth Lee; his stepmother, Mergina Erickson Lee; and a sister, Palma Erickson.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. The Schuchert Funeral Home of Spirit Lake is in charge of arrangements.