Eleanore Gertrude Schulz, known as Lee, was born December 23, 1930. She joined a happy, busy family in NW Minnesota, close to Euclid. She reveled in farm life, tending ducks and chickens, wading in the coulee, and teasing her siblings. We cherish the picture of her, at about 12 years old, standing barefoot on her favorite pony’s back. Her adventurous spirit was strong.
Her marriage in 1948 to Sam Lee gave birth to four children—LaVaun, Gordon, Leslie and Kathy. The young family remained adventuresome, with moves to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and then to Great Falls, Montana. During these years, Lee’s affinity to family and love of the Lord grew.
More adventures came as the family grew. Lee actively participated fully in the lives of all her children. She was a consummate cook, and she often made a living cooking. She enjoyed gardening and taking care of animals. Yet her first and best love was bold and prioritized! God and family!
As her children graduated from high school and moved away, adventure took the reins once more. Remaining connected to her family and active in her church, Lee had numerous abodes: DeBolt, Alberta, Canada; Fort Benton, Montana; Valier, Montana; and even Fairbanks, Alaska for a while. Still, she called Great Falls home.
She blossomed with her ten grandchildren, always being engaged in their activities, even from afar, being a moral compass and lovingly “fixing up” all their needs. Her grandchildren include by age Jasen White, Chance Lee, Jacob Messer, Trevor Messer, Megan Maloney, Tracy Ashmore, Jackie Garrison and Laura Lee Filson. She also celebrated the arrival of each of her 10 great grandkids. June brings the birth of the first great-great-granddaughter!
Lee was loved by many friends! They appreciated her quick wit, her feisty sense of humor, and her gift of taking life in stride. Her best and longest friend is Jerry DeMarco! He and mom danced—one of her favorite activities—their way through almost a decade of polkas, waltzes and doting on each other. He is our hero! Jerry added so much to her life as Parkinson’s took its toll!
Our beautiful momma, grandma—more commonly known as Lee Boumans—was called to her reward on April 10, 2023. Ninety-two years of entertaining others, lifting their burdens, dancing whenever possible, and still doing it her way! The memory of her adventures, the joy of her sweet spirit, this we cherish!
Lee is preceded in death by both her sons and her three husbands.
A celebration of Lee’s life and the blessing she was to us will be at Trinity Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
To read the complete obituary and share condolences, click here to visit the Croxford Funeral Home website.
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