Isaac William Lee

BURLEY – Isaac “Ike” William Lee was born on Nov. 13, 1915, in Rupert, Idaho, and passed away at his home in St. George, Utah, on Dec. 13, 2013.

He was born to a widowed mother, Anna Rosella Olenslager Lee and was raised by his grandmother, Hannah Olenslager. At an early age he worked on farms and herded cows for his uncles, as needed. He also worked for his brother-in-law, Paul Hatch, on a dry farm in Chesterfield, Idaho, and for Pixton’s Wholesale Co. in Burley, Idaho. He attended schools in Minidoka and Cassia Counties.

Ike served in the Texas Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1937-1939. Immediately upon his return, he married Pearl Genevieve Larson on Dec. 13, 1939, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He worked as a salesman for Whitehead Furniture and Wall Furniture for a short time. Ike and Pearl decided to try their hand at a family upholstery business. They rented a building on Oakley Avenue and opened Lee’s Upholstery. By 1943, the business had expanded to the point they needed a larger building. They moved to a new location at 1143 Overland Avenue. In time, the name of the business was changed to Lee’s Furniture and Upholstery. Several years later, they sold the upholstery business and began business as Lee Furniture. The business was later expanded to a larger building at 1408 Overland Avenue.

Ike loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting pheasants in the fall and fishing. He looked forward to an early morning round of golf with Pearl and friends. He also enjoyed racquetball, tennis, boating, and water and snow skiing with family and friends. He has been observed water skiing in a full suit of clothes and never getting them wet. He was a snow ski instructor at Pomerelle Mountain Ski Resort. Ike looked forward to the weeks spent at the family cabin on Warm Lake each summer where he enjoyed hiking, waterskiing, fishing and riding mountain trails on his Honda motorcycle.

He served as bishop of the Burley First Ward, president of the Burley Idaho Stake, and as the Burley Idaho Stake patriarch. Everyone that came in contact with him felt of his great love for God and mankind. Never has he put himself above another or not treated all equal. He has always found joy in the service of others. He served as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cassia Memorial Hospital from 1960 to1970, and then continued to serve on the board as chairman of the Foundations and Development Committee until 1973. He served on the Snake River Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America for 21 years, attended training sessions at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and was a section director at the National Scout Jamboree at Camp Farragut in 1966. He was awarded the “Silver Beaver Award” for distinguished service to boyhood. Ike was a past member and president of the Burley Kiwanis Club, and in 1984, he was recognized by the Burley Chamber of Commerce as Businessman of the Year.

He served for many years as a temple ordinance worker and sealer in the Boise, Idaho and Logan, Utah Temples. He and Pearl served a full-time senior mission in the England Bristol Mission. In 1991, they became snow birds and lived part-time in their new home in Santa Clara, Utah. They built a new home in St. George in 2000 and became full-time residents there. Pearl passed away in 2007 and he married Effie Holt Mills in 2009. He and Effie enjoyed four years of good companionship prior to his passing.

He was preceded in death by parents, Anna Rosella Olenslager and William Isaac Lee; his wife, Pearl Genevieve Larson; a grandson, Steven Sadlier; one great-grandson, Zane Vanderhoff; and two sisters, Phyllis Hatch and Helen Zillner.

He is survived by his children, Janet (Arlo) Waddoups, Deanne (Kenneth) Walker, Gary (Carol Ann) Lee, Kevin (Roni) Lee, and Brent (Jacque) Lee; 21 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Ralph K. Forgeon, and Victor Forgeon.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at the Burley LDS Stake Center, 2050 Normal Ave., in Burley. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary fund or a charity of your choice.