Clifford Lee

CLIFFORD LEE, age 92, of Blue Earth, died Monday, August 1, 2011, at United Hospital, Blue Earth. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 8, 2011, at 2:00 PM, at Faith Lutheran Brethren Church in Blue Earth, with Rev. Brent Walker, officiating. Burial will be in East Chain Evangelical Free Church Cemetery, East Chain, Minnesota. Visitation time will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Sunday, at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 400 E. 14th Street, in Blue Earth and one hour prior to services at the church. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comCliff was born July 12, 1919, at Lastine, Oregon, the son of Kittle and Serina (Alne) Lee. He was raised and educated in the East Chain area. He entered the U.S. Army in 1941 and was later married to Solvieg Bjornson on November 8, 1942 in Joice, Iowa. In the army he was stationed at Camp Cook and Fort Sill and was a military instructor at Drake University in Des Moines. He was discharged in 1945 and became a carpenter in Ventura, Iowa. In 1946 he began farming in Fertile, Iowa before moving to a farm in Pilot Grove in 1951. In 1962 he bought a farm north of Blue Earth and worked at construction as well. He owned and operated Lee''s Construction until 1980. He retired to Blue Earth in 1983. Cliff was a founding member and helped construct Faith Lutheran Church where he held many church offices and served as the church secretary for many years. Cliff loved music, playing the guitar & piano, singing, and creating many family heirlooms in his woodworking shop. He has been a resident of Parker Oaks in Winnebago since 2005.Clifford is survived by his daughter, Sonja (Terry) Peterson of East Chain, his son, Phil (Diane) Lee of LeSeuer, his son, Tom (Cindy) Lee of Virginia, MN, his daughter, Linda (Randy) Oldenburg of Lakeville, his sister, Geri (Marv) Smith of Mason City, Iowa, sister, Shirley Skartland of Maple Grove, sister-in-law, Clenora Skartland of Winnebago, nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren, and many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father Gerhard Skartland, wife-Solveig in 2008 and a brother, Gerhard Skartland, Jr.