Lee Edward Colburn, 47, died Wednesday, December 31, 1997 at Dell Rapids Hospital as the result of an automobile accident.

Lee was born December 27, 1950 in Clark, SD. He graduated from Brookings High School in 1969 and from South Dakota State University in 1973. For 11 years he held the all-time scoring record for the SDSU Jack Rabbits basketball team, and was somewhat of a statewide celebrity. He married Connie Sue Wikle on May 12, 1973, in Sioux Falls. She died in 1984. They had one daughter, Cristina, now 16.

Lee had been the co-owner, with his brother Lorre, of MC&R Pools and Spas in Sioux Falls since 1975. He was also involved in several other businesses. He married Karen Roufs Dickerson, on December 30, 1984, in Brookings. Karen had lost her husband to cancer in 1977. Her three daughters, now grown, think of Lee as their second dad. His three stepgrandchildren called him papa.

Lee had been a member of the WCG, UCG and was independent at the time of his death. He was ordained a deacon while attending WCG. His brother Zoell began receiving the Plain Truth in 1965 which Lee eventually began reading. He was baptized in 1981.

Though Lee’s life was cut short, the years he lived were full and rich. His zest for living and his youthful enthusiasm enriched everyone he came into contact with. He was a gift to those who knew him, and we thank God for the time he gave us with Lee.

Written by Elizabeth Stith courtesy of Servants News