Kathryn Lee

Rev. Kathryn (Smithers) Lee, born Aug. 24, 1921, died peacefully on Jan. 14, 2009 at the home of her daughter Elizabeth Lee in Milwaukie, Ore.

Her husband, lifetime companion and friend, Rev. Otis Lee, preceded her in death on March 31, 2008 as did her son Paul, on Dec. 24, 2006.

Kathryn is survived by daughters Sylvia Ruud and Becky Hirdman of St. Paul, Minn., Elizabeth Lee of Milwaukie, Ore. and Solveig Lee of Langley. She is also survived by grandchildren Colin, Kara, Julian, Samantha and Grace and great-grandchildren Alejandra and Pablito.

Kathryn had a love of learning and a life long commitment to serving others, especially those disadvantaged and oppressed. She had bachelors of art degrees in sacred music and elementary education and a masters of divinity degree.

Before her own ordination she worked alongside Otis in congregations in Idaho, Alaska, California and Brazil.

Kathryn became an ordained Lutheran Minister in 1979 and was co-pastors with Otis in a four-point parish in North Dakota until 1982. In that year Kathryn was called to be Director for Parish Support in the upper Midwest for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and in 1988 Kathryn became program director in the Division of Global Missions of the ELCA serving Central America, Mexico, Columbia and Brazil.

Kathryn and Otis moved to Whidbey Island from North Dakota in 1997 to be near their younger grandchildren and loved their home in Clinton overlooking Useless Bay.

A celebration and memorial service to honor the lives of Kathryn and Otis will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 18341 Highway 525, Freeland. All are welcome to attend.