Mark Alan Lee
courtesy photo
Mark Alan Lee
RONAN – Mark Alan Lee, age 58, passed away suddenly at his home on Oct. 11, 2014.
Born Dec. 4, 1955, in St. Ignatius to Joseph Fay Lee and Doris Aletha (Durrant) Lee, he was raised in St. Ignatius on their dairy farm. Mark graduated in 1974 from St. Ignatius High School.
Mark was self-taught in many things; he took an interest in something and then mastered it. At a young age his interest was farming which then led to motorcycles, snowmobiles, racing and ultimately to his mastery at engine work.
Mark married Caralee Starkel in 1988 and adopted her 8-year old daughter, Jamie, on Nov. 16, 1988. In March of 1989 they had a son, Alan. Mark and Caralee later divorced.
In 2008 he met his love, Caryl Brown, whom he cherished up until his death.
Recently Mark could be found behind the gun counter at Ronan Sports and Western. He didn’t really consider working there a job as he enjoyed it so much. He also owned and was operating Flathead River Shuttle Service with Caryl. He previously worked for Reynolds Rental and owned and operated Mark’s Machine Shop.
Mark loved spending time with his family, children and grandkids. He enjoyed traveling with Caryl to visit family and friends. He also enjoyed helping his parents and in-laws on their ranches. Another passion was hunting and his love of shooting sports. His love of vehicles led him to be a member of the Skyliner 4x4 Club where he met some of his life long friends.
Mark is preceded in death by his father Joseph Fay Lee and his brother-in-law Delmar Leroy Carey.
He is survived by Caryl Brown; son Alan Lee; daughter Jamie (Kory) Tomlin; grandchildren Brock, Kyla and Jacob Tomlin; siblings Jan (Bob) Swanson, Vicki (Nick) Stevenson, Fran (Delmar) Carey, Stan (Karen) Lee; nieces and nephews Dion (Kandy) Carey, Nicole (Rick) Watson, Cassie Lee, Chanda Lee, Shan (Angie) Stevenson, Sheri (David) Johnson, Danny (Kymm) Warner, and Greg Stevenson. Beyond his own family he is survived by Caryl’s kids and grandkids; Pam (Bob) Siloti, Jenni (Buck) Barney, Matt (Jolena) Brown, and grandkids Tim Siloti and Travis Hughes, Troy, Kinsley and Ridge Barney, and Jadelin Brown. Last but not least Mark’s dog Ranger survives him.
Visitation will be held at Foster Funeral Home and Crematory, St. Ignatius, beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, and continuing through the evening. Services will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, St. Ignatius, on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius. Condolences may be left at: www.fosterfhandcrematory.com.
