Gary Lee

Gary Allen Lee, 83, Bismarck, formerly of Minot, died January 27, 2020, with his family by his side. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at Eastgate Funeral Home, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck.

Interment will be at held at 3:00 p.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. 

Gary was born on September 23, 1936 in Long Prairie, Minnesota to George and Audrey (Rosdahl) Lee.  He grew up and attended school in Long Prairie, Minnesota and was the head pin setter at the bowling alley operated by his parents. The family moved to Riverdale, North Dakota in 1953 and Gary graduated from Riverdale High School in 1955. Following graduation, Gary entered the US Navy in September 1955.  He was a member of the crew that put the USS Ranger into service in 1957, and the ship had to travel around the southern tip of South America because the ship was too large to pass through the Panama Canal. He also served on the USS Kennebec and the USS Nimitz.

Gary married Betty Lee Mills on April 5, 1958, in Sophia, West Virginia. They made their home at various US Naval bases throughout the world including bases in Virginia, California, Hawaii, Guam and Spain. He retired from the US Navy in 1975 with 20 years of service as Petty Officer 1^st Class. Gary and his family settled in Minot in early 1976, where Gary worked in finance for the US Air Force until his retirement in 1996 with 20 years of civil service. 

Gary and Betty faithfully attended Southside Church of the Nazarene in Minot, where they frequently volunteered. Gary was also actively involved in the Minot chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). Gary enjoyed spending time with his family, especially during holidays and special occasions. He was the official griller during summer events and his family learned to enjoy their hamburgers and hotdogs very well done. He also had a great deal of pride in his yard and worked tirelessly to ensure that it always looked good. Gary was active in league bowling, enjoyed bowling with his family, and golfed regularly, a pastime passed on to him from his parents. Gary was also an annual fixture at the North Dakota State Fair, taking vacation leave and attending the event most days every year. He also liked working on his computer, putting together financial information for himself and his organizations, as well as making banners for family events and labels for everything. Gary and Betty had been married for 57 years when Betty passed away in 2015. They loved each other very much and it showed in the many ways they helped each other at home, went practically everywhere together and still held hands when out and about.

Gary is survived by daughters Karen (Paul) Prout, Williston, and Linda (Cliff) Betterley, Bismarck; grandson Caleb Prout, Williston; and sister Kim (Darrin Frohlich) Lee, Bismarck. 

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty, his parents and his brother George (Bud) Lee.  

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation, 1825 46^th Street, Mandan, ND 58554.