News & Events

ALAN 'BUTCH' LEE 10/28/1929 - 7/19/21

Mr. Allan "Butch" Lee of Melita and formerly of Pierson passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021 at the age of 91. He was predeceased by his parents, Stephen and Sadie (Southam) Lee; father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Allena (Coombs) Strath; sister, Jean (Pat) Sterling; brother, Gordon Lee; sister-in-law, Della Lee, brother-in-law, Art Tucker, Jean (Larry) Goodship, and Jean Strath. Allan is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Anne (Strath) Lee; three daughters, Laura Jean (Bruce) Campbell (children, Allan (Amanda), Braxton Rose and Layne Campbell, Adam (El-Lee Dootjes) Zack and Alivia Campbell, and Stephen Campbell), Myra Anne (Kelly) Bridgeman (children, Halee Bridgeman (Duncan), Logan Bridgeman, and Beau Bridgeman (Natalie), Alison McLean (Tony) Lampertz (children, Laird (Catherine) and Cameron Lampertz, Jordan (Calla) Lampertz, and Leandra Lampertz); brother, Ken Lee; sister, Gwen Tucker; sister-in-law, Joyce Lee; brother-in-law, Bill Strath; also numerous nieces and nephews.

Allan was born on the family farm, NE 30-02-28, on October 28, 1929 to Stephen and Sadie Lee. He was the fourth of five siblings. He took his schooling, up to Grade 11, in Pierson and then had the opportunity to move to Winnipeg where he finished his Grade 12 at the St. John's College School and then went on to the University of Manitoba where he completed his degree in Agriculture. While attending the U of M, Dad met his future wife, Barbara Strath from Souris, MB. Barbara and Allan were married March 27, 1954. Allan and Barb moved to the farm, where he had been born, to farm and raise their family of three girls, Laura Jean, Myra and Alison.

The farm was a great place to grow up. It was filled with pets, cattle, horses, 4-H calves, chickens, music and love, lots of love. He (Butch) was well known in the south west Manitoba hockey community, where he played, coached and was a member of the SWHL executive for many years. In the winter of 1956, he had the opportunity and was invited to play hockey in England with the Wembley Lions. In 1989, Allan was given the honour of being the first amateur hockey player from Manitoba to be inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

Allan and his brother, Ken, farmed together in a grain and commercial cow operation, later joined by his nephews Brian and Roger. In the early 1970s they started incorporating Simmental into the herd with Imports from Switzerland and an A I breeding program to build a Pure Bred and Full Blood Simmental cow herd under the name of KAL-LEE Simmental Farms. Serving his community was very important to him, dedicating much of his time to his community by participating on multiple boards. He was involved in many community projects.

Allan loved to laugh, had a wonderful sense of humour, was a man who loved to sing, a man who worked hard to provide for his family, a man of faith, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and a friend to many. A public graveside service to celebrate Allan's life was held on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. from the Pierson Cemetery, Pierson, MB. Pastor Paul Kimball officiated. Donations may be given to the Melita Personal Care Home Palliative Care Fund, Box 459, Melita, MB, R0M 1L0, Turtle Mountain Bible Camp, Box 1198, Boissevain, MB, R0K 0E0, or to the Pierson Edward Sports Centre, Box 100, Pierson, MB, R0M 1S0. Arrangements in care of Redpath Funeral Home, Melita, MB. (204) 522-3361. Neil Redpath and Kurt Ardron - Funeral Directors.

To send messages of
condolence to the family, please visit: redpathfuneralhome.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 31, 2021