Donald G. Lee

Donald George Lee Born: October 5, 1941 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho Departed this life: July 9, 2026, Wenatchee, Washington Don was born in 1941 to Bob and Laura Lee. The youngest of four sons, he grew up on a small dairy farm in northern Idaho and enjoyed a happy childhood rich in everything except cash or sisters. He made his choice to serve the Lord at Bonners Ferry convention in 1954 and kept true to that choice until the end of his life. After graduating from the University of Idaho and teaching a year in White Salmon, Washington, Don married Joan Jacobsen of Burien, Washington in 1964. They lived in Corvallis, Oregon while Don completed a master's degree at Oregon State, then moved to Kitsap County, Washington where he taught science at North Kitsap High School. They raised their four children, Merlin, June, Kevin, and Brian, in Poulsbo, then Kingston. In 1988, Don & Joan moved to Lima, Peru, where Don taught at Colegio Roosevelt until Joan died of cancer in 1997. In 1999, Don married Barbara Taylor of Stettler, Alberta. They resided in N. Seattle for a short span, then they soon moved to Spain, where Don was the head of the science department at the American School of Madrid, and they enjoyed traveling internationally together. They retired to Omak, Washington in 2007 and Don kept active by working part-time as a substitute teacher in the local schools. In 2020 they moved to Wenatchee, where Barbara lovingly cared for Don at home until his Alzheimer's reached the final stage. (after a short stay in hospital in May, because of complications, Don was then moved to Cashmere Post Acute, June 9. Upon falling July 5 and sustaining a broken hip, Don was admitted back to hospital where he received loving care until his passing, July 9.) Don was preceded in death by his first wife Joan, his parents, and brothers Bobby and Harry. Don is survived by his wife Barbara, brother Art of New Plymouth, Idaho, and his children: Merlin & Tina Lee in Greer, SC June Lee in Townsend, MT Kevin & Robin Lee in Milford, OH Brian & Sue Lee in Lake Forest Park, WA He loved his six granddaughters enormously: Erika, working in the ministry in Kentucky and Tennessee Amanda and Kevin Cavazos in Bow, Washington Alayna in Milford, OH Kendra, Kayla, and Kenzie in Lake Forest Park, WA He also leaves behind several brothers and sisters-in-law, many nephews and nieces and their families, along with an innumerable number of friends and former students. A service will be held Saturday, July 25th at 1:00 PM at Foothills Community Center (formerly the Wenatchee Seniors’ Center). Interment will be Monday, July 27th at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, WA. Friends and family may visit on Friday, July 24th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home. We would like to thank the staff at Central Hospital and Cashmere Post Acute for the care administered to Don while a patient there, also for their helpful input. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by jonesjonesbetts.com.

Tributes

Donald G. Lee

October 5, 1941 - July 9, 2026