Leroy Dale Lemke

Leroy Dale Lemke passed away on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, of respiratory failure after a short illness. Lee was born on July 31, 1934, in Missoula. He attended Missoula County High School, graduating in 1952. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served as a medical technician. After an honorary discharge, he moved to Billings in 1956 and worked for St. Vincent Hospital, where he met his wife, Delores. They were married on April 27, 1957, and soon had two children. The young family moved to Bozeman, where Lee attended Montana State College and completed a business accounting degree in 1964. Though cheering for many Bobcat games, being from Missoula, he still considered the Griz his favorite team. After college, the family moved back to Billings, where Lee worked as the comptroller for KULR8 TV for several years. After that, he joined Northern Ag Network, where he worked as comptroller and national director of marketing.

Lee was involved in the community and his church. He coached Little League baseball at Rose Park for many years, taking an all-star team to a state championship. He also coached boys' basketball at St. Thomas Parish, where his team won the city championship. He was a founding member of St. Thomas, meeting in the basement of the Knights of Columbus Hall until the church was built. He was involved in organizing the Holy Name Society, a men's service group in which he remained active.

Lee and Delores loved spending time with family at Sanibel Island, Fla., and enjoyed traveling to many places in the world, including Jamaica, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Ireland, Germany and Italy. A very special trip was an Alaskan cruise with the entire family on Lee and Delores' 50th wedding anniversary. Lee was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed fishing and hunting in his native Montana with family and friends.

Lee is survived by his wife, Delores; son Patrick (Denise); daughter Michele Lauenstein (Steve); and grandchildren, Kelli, Kimberly, Joseph, Mitchell and Anna; and many nieces and nephews. He also had special relationship with his two brothers-in-law and their wives, Martin and Inge Kraninger and David and Patricia Kraninger.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Helen; brothers, Norman and Eldon; and his sister, Norma Norby.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., followed immediately by a vigil service. The Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2055 Woody Drive, followed by committal in Calvary Cemetery.

A special thanks to the medical staff at St. Vincent's Hospital, especially the ICU doctors and nurses, whose professionalism and compassion are greatly appreciated.