Marvel Lee

Marvel Catherine Lee, 91 of Bismarck, ND, formerly of Ellendale, ND, died January 10, 2017 at Baptist Health Care Center, Bismarck, ND. She was born on March 7, 1925 near Bushnell, SD to Leo and Naomi Rudebusch. She attended country school near Bruce and after her family moved to a farm near Ortley, SD, she attended Lura School. She married Mancel Lee on December 30, 1942, at the age of 17. They farmed near Ortley, SD and ran a grocery store in Florence until they bought a farm near Oakes, ND. In 1956, they purchased Baldwin Ranch 7 near Ellendale and farmed and raised cattle until 1969 when they sold the ranch and bought a mobile home park and apartment building in Ellendale. Marvel has been a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church since 1959, where she was active in the church circle and sang in the church choir for many years. She was a member of the Riverdale Homemakers, Kent Birthday Club and Ellendale Red Hat Society. Marvel loved music. She could sing, play the guitar, accordion and piano. She loved to travel, dance and visit friends and family. Her pride and joy were her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Her family will miss her constant love, beautiful smile and her calm and caring ways. Grateful to have shared her life are two sons, James (Helen) Lee of Great Bend, KS, and Allen (Tammy) Lee of Grand Forks, ND; four daughters, Dixie (Gerry) Klein of Sioux Falls, SD, Linda Larson of Thief River Falls, MN, Beverly (Ralph) Wallace of Ellendale, ND, and Karen (Dean) Shilman of Bismarck, ND; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Davis of Whitewood, SD; a brother-in-law, Arden Richardt of Milbank, SD; three sisters-in-law, Pauline Flones of Ortley, SD, Alice Rudebusch of Summit, SD, and Ramona Rudebusch of Webster, SD; 17 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Naomi Rudebusch, her husband, Mancel Lee, a son, Dick Leo Lee, three brothers, Eugene, Donald and Robert Rudebusch, her best friend and sister-in-law, Ruby (Ralph) Lee Redlin, brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Carl (Lois) Lee, John (Josie) Lee, Ing Lee, Betty Lee Richardt, Tom (Kathryn) Lee and Shirley Rudebusch, son-in-law, Paul Larson, and her parents-in-law, Torjus and Borghild Fotland Lee. The funeral is 1pm Saturday, January 21 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Ellendale with Pastor Galen Sylvester officiating. Visitation is one hour prior to church services. Burial is in the spring at Ellendale City Cemetery. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.