Dale Albert Lee

Dale Albert Lee, of Nampa, formerly of Sandpoint Idaho, died early Friday February 24, 2017, in a Meridian care facility at the age of 100 after a brief illness.

Dad was born near Twin Falls Idaho, August 28th, 1916. The family moved to Nampa when he was one year old. He lived through WW I, the Great Depression, traveled from West to East coasts as a young man to work and attend university, fought as a soldier in WWII, returning to Idaho at age 36 to marry and raise a family. He became a leader in his community and a notable businessman in the area. He was interested in everything and everybody, never losing his curiosity and gregarious nature. He lived through the loss of a son, father, mother, sisters, brothers, close friends, and a dear wife. Through all this, he maintained the equilibrium, wisdom and humor of a man who is at peace with himself and with God. His favorite verse perched on his desk for decades, “With God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26.

Dad’s education began with eight years at Sunny Ridge School in Nampa, graduating from Nampa High in 1934. As a little boy in knee breeches he remembers seeing Charles Lindbergh’s parade when he flew into Boise after successfully flying the Atlantic. Many a homeless drifter wandered up the lane to the Lee family farm during the depression. Dad credits his dog Joe for acting as security for the family – welcoming the ones who just needed a meal, and shooing away the dangerous ones.

After high school, Dad traveled to Southern California to attend Los Angeles Jr. College. He worked at Warner Brothers and Fox Theatres in Hollywood for two years, then drove delivery truck for an L.A. laundry service, sometimes greeted at the door by movie stars themselves (including Shirley Temple and Al Jolson). He worked a summer at Yellowstone Lodge, earning an extravagant one dollar tip from Gary Cooper – a fortune during the depression. In 1937 he traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend American University and be a Capitol Policeman. He even played cards occasionally with then Senator Harry Truman.

In 1941 as war became certain, he signed on with Army Coast Artillery at Fort Monroe, Virginia and served until the end of World War II, eventually earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was shipped to Greenland in 1942, serving in the European Theatre for 18 months, then over to the Asian Pacific Theatre, serving in Saipan and on the Tinian Islands until the war was over. From the Tinian Islands the Enola Gay set out to deliver the first atom bomb, yet the soldiers there had no inkling of the event taking place under their noses.

After the war, Dad traveled to Idaho - back to civilian life, managing movie theatres in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and Sandpoint. He moved to Sandpoint in 1952, managing the Panida Theatre there – while he also supervised the construction and management of the Sandpoint Motor Movie Drive-In. His promotions for the drive-in movie theatre went from the creative to the outlandish, including the release of two dozen White Leghorn chickens one night at intermission amongst the audience, so they could scramble for keeps.

Later though, keenly aware of the new television phenomenon and its effect on movie ticket sales, Dad planned a career change, eventually opening Sandpoint Real Estate and Insurance Company in the early 60s. He would continue on successfully with his partners in this company for nearly forty years.

In 1952, Dad met and married Pauline Brevick - they had 2 daughters and a son. Jody Lee (husband John Wilson) London, England; Alan (wife Valerie) Meridian; and Linda, Spokane, Washington. He was preceded in death (in 1970) by a son and our brother, Larry Lee.

Dad’s involvement in the Sandpoint community included President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Kiwanis Club, Commander of the American Legion, and a leader at First Lutheran Church where we attended. Governor John Evans and Governor Cecil Andrus both appointed him to serve on the Idaho Housing Authority Commission to represent Northern Idaho, where he served for eight years.

Dad married his high school sweetheart, Darline Johnson in 1985. They purchased a condo in Sun City West, Arizona – golfed, traveled the country and enjoyed life. He lost Darline to Alzheimers disease in 2003.

Dad loved golf and politics, cars, the Wall Street Journal, the stock market, apple pie, the Seattle Mariners, world affairs and draft horses. He detested camping, long lines, turnips and canned meat because of too much army life. His engaging nature, intelligence and insightful humor endeared him to strangers and friends alike. He loved us all.

Dad was preceded in death by his son Larry, his parents Albert and Ola Lee, his wife Darline, his sister Ruth Allen and her husband Lester, his brother Fred Doty and his wife Ruth, his brother Blaine Lee and his wife Ann, his sister Annabel Allen and her husband Hugh. He is survived by his sister Edith Schwartz, his children Jody, Alan and Linda; five grandsons: Casey (Dao) Swendig of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Phillip Howard of Seattle;  Paul (Kristina) Howard of Nampa, Nathan (Lacey) Lee of Boise and Joshua (Alli) Lee of Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also survived by four great grandsons: Deimian, Sebastian, Xavier, and Jeremiah, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Services for Dad include a viewing at Nampa Funeral Home 4-7 p.m. Monday, March 6, and a Memorial service on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at 2 p.m., also at Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. Military honors will follow at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to DAV, the Disabled Veterans Fund.

Dale Lee was “a presence in this world,” in the words of the hospice chaplain – and we agree. He was practical and yet compassionate, always there for us, always loving, providing a safety net for each of us during the tough times. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten. God Be With You, Dad. Always.

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