Leif Christoffer Lee

Leif C. Lee was born August 16, 1914 in Duluth, Minnesota. He was the son of the late Rasmus M. and Ragna M. (Bordson) Lee. He passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at his home on Rita Drive in Lindale surrounded by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and new great great grandson. As the son of Norwegian immigrants, he had an impeccable work ethic and was said by many to be, 'the hardest working man I know.' When the Depression hit, he quit the 8th grade and went to work in his father's butcher shop. In his early 20's he traveled with his family to the West Coast where they lived in Astoria, Oregon. He had many different jobs, always confident that he could learn whatever he needed to help the family, but he always seemed to come back to the trade his father taught him - to be a skilled butcher. His mid 20's brought the family south to Los Angeles, California where he worked with his twin brother and father in many aspects of the meat business. Leif was always faithful to help the family and follow the example of his parents in faith and hard work. In church, he met and fell in love with June Russell of Maywood, California. They were married in October 1940 and remained sweethearts until her passing in 2010. Leif loved music and played his mother's Gibson mandolin for 80 years. He sang with the Weatherford Quartet, Stamps Backster and west coast Kingsmen Quartets and could always hear his part as baritone. They came to Texas in 2004 to be with family and have loved Texas for those same values of family and faith with which they grew up. Like his father Rasmus, he was a quiet man. But you cannot find more purposed men of faith, heart and responsibility. His sense of strength and faithfulness has inspired many generations of family, ministers and leaders in the church and community. Both his son (Dale Liid) and daughter (Judi Schultz) have served with their families as missionaries in Europe and Africa, pastors and teachers in the university . His Great Grandchildren have given summers to serve in Mexico, South America, Mongolia and the Far East. Giving and serving is a part their inheritance from 'Grandpa Lee'. Leif is preceded in death by his twin brother Alf, brother Erliing, and sisters Anne and Ruth. His 'sweetheart, June' precedes him by two years and a grandson, Donald Lee Schultz. Mr. Lee is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Judi and Doug Schultz of Lindale; son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Yvonne Liid of Vacaville, California; grandchildren, Robin Bailiff and husband Russell of Lindale, Dana Ramsey and husband Terry of Wilsonville, Oregon, Michal McCarthy and husband Brian of San Diego, California, Talitha Lee of Reston, Virginia; great grandchildren, Tirzah Giroux, Danielle Witt, Toviyah Ramsey, David Ramsey, Nicolas Lee McCarthy, Cormac McCarthy, Austyn Bailiff, Amber Bailiff, Alec Bailiff, Aleigha Bailiff and great great grandson Tzadikiah Giroux.

Leif Christoffer Lee

August 14, 2014 - March 20, 2012