Dennis Lee

Lee, Dennis A. Age 85 of St. Michael. Passed away peacefully on November 29th following a diagnosis of Lung Cancer in late 2024. Dennis was blessed with a long and wonderful life and touched so many in the community. He was born and raised in Mahnomen, MN to Orville and Daisy Lee before moving with his family at age 14 to Waite Park, he graduated from St. Cloud Tech in 1958. Happily married to wife Carol (nee Mick) for over 54 years until her death in 2015. Dennis worked as a machinist for over six decades, the majority of this time as the founder & CEO of DAL Machine, Inc., which he later sold to his son Jeffrey while continuing to work there regularly. Together with Carol they raised four children who married and blessed them with 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Dennis was the epitome of the hard-working family man who inspired and set examples for all his children and their children through deeds not words. An avid outdoorsman his entire life he taught his children hunting, fishing, gun safety, conservation and respect for rules, and related critical skills. Dennis loved sports, both watching and playing; he especially loved to golf and was a founding co-owner of Pheasant Acres Golf Course in Corcoran, MN. Remarkably skilled with his hands, he could create or fix anything (as long as his children did not lose his tools) and taught his kids (with uneven results) the importance of maintenance and oiling. Throughout his life he was involved in numerous social and volunteer activities: a fireman in Maple Grove; a Lions Club member and chapter president; politically with the Republican Party; a proud NRA Life Member; and always available to his community government and church for service, advice and active participation. Dennis was an inveterate cribbage player, always eager to teach newcomers to the game and always in pursuit of the elusive 29-point hand (remember to count knobs!) With deep love and concern he helped Soviet immigrants settle in Minnesota, where they strengthen our State just as his Norwegian predecessors did.

Dennis loved to travel and was proud to have visited all 50 of the United States. He set foot on six of the seven continents and had plans to visit the seventh, Antarctica, this coming January. We have faith that he will still get there somehow.

Dennis is survived by his children Kent (Zina) Lee, Dawn (Rick) Hammer, Jeff (Terri) Lee, Jill (Kyle) Coolbroth; grandchildren Nick, Jessica, Emily (Andrew), Stefanie (Jarid), Sasha (Tarek), Nadia, Alex, Rachel (Kevin), Madison (Matthew), Sydney (Jake), Elena (Thomas); great grandchildren Dominque, Carolina, Alanna, Rylie, Kinsley, Brooks, Sadie, Bryce, Nora, Luka, Niko, Gabriel, Eloise, Ruth; brother Wayne; sister Deanne; brother-in-law David Mick (Dee); sister-in-law LuAnn Mick; numerous nieces and nephews and Elizabeth Pederson with whom he spent several recent meaningful years.

Dennis was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; parents Orville & Daisy Lee; mother and father in-law Raymond and Esther Mick; brother, Garry Lee; sister in-law Sandra Alferness and brother-in-law Merwin Alferness.

Service at 11:00 AM Fri, December 19 at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home, 15800 37th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN. Visitation 60 minutes prior. Private family interment at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Maple Grove immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in honor of Dennis to the American Diabetes SOCIETY (www.americandiabetessociety.org).