Harry L. Lee, 91, Ellendale
Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 28, 2004
Funeral services for Harry L. Lee, of Ellendale, will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at the First Lutheran Church of Ellendale. The Rev. Arne Halbakken will officiate. Visitation will be held on hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale. Military honors will be accorded by the Ellendale Veteran’s Organization.
Mr. Lee died Friday morning, Nov. 26, 2004, at the Red Wing Health Care Center in Red Wing. He was 91 years of age.
Harry was born Nov. 1, 1913, in New Richland, the son of John H. and Anna M (Thompson) Lee. The family moved to Ellendale when he was two years old. He attended Ellendale School through his first year in high school. Harry worked as a truck driver on the dray line for Ed Dwyer and Olavus Spurr until he was drafted into the Army on April 30, 1942. He continued as a driver, pulling &uot;Big Bertha,&uot; a very large cannon, in the field artillery. He was in enemy action in North Africa, Italy, and finally crossing the Rhine River into Germany. He participated in the liberation of Dachau prison camp. He was discharged from the army on his birthday, Nov. 1, 1945.
Harry was united in marriage to Marcella C. Nihart on June 30, 1952, at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale.
When he came out of the army he continued driving truck for C.D. Howell, Wm C. Fynbo, and Misgen brothers. He worked at the Farmers Milling and Elevator Company for two years. He worked with Farr Construction as a caterpillar tractor operator for two years. He then worked at the Ellendale School as custodian and engineer for twenty years. After retiring from the school he continued to haul pre-schoolers for five years. Then he volunteered to pass out milk in the lunch line for a couple of days, but liked the students and teachers so much he did it for over five years.
He will be remembered and missed for his kindness and jovial nature.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marcella, in 1994; her son, Robert Nihart, in 2000;
his parents: John and Anna Lee; sister, Alice (Mrs. Charles Smith); brother, Clarence (Isabel, and Eleanor); and brother, Kenneth (Shirley).
Harry is survived by Marcella’s son, Ronald Nihart; Robert’s wife, Marlene; brothers: Ernest of Ellendale, and Russel (Genelle) of Bloomington, Minn.; and nieces and nephews.