Edward James Lee, 89, of Cando, ND, passed away on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at the Towner County Living Center in Cando. A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2020 from 10am to 12pm at the Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home in Cando. Private family funeral services will be held.  A burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 11am with military honors conducted by Bismarck VFW Post #1326 and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.

Due to Covid-19, the following CDC recommendations are highly encouraged: social distancing, hand cleansing and sanitization, and wearing masks. Please stay home if you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

In lieu of flowers, please send any memorial donations to the Cando Food Pantry.

Edward was born November 30, 1930 to Melvin and Dorothy (Deplazes) Lee in Devils Lake, ND. He grew up in Bisbee, ND and graduated from Bisbee High School. He worked for Gilbert Olson Electric in Cando. Edward served his country during the Korean War in the United States Marine Corps as an Electrician. He was very proud of his service to his country. His daughter Nancy had the honor of accompanying her dad on an honor flight to Washington DC. He returned to Cando after the War and began working at Independent Lumber.

Edward married Vera Loken in Cando on November 11, 1954. They had three children: Terry, Nancy & Kristi.

Edward continued working at Independent Lumber, eventually becoming a partner and changing the name to Cando Lumber. He retired in 1992 after 40 years.  He was a lifelong member of the American Legion.

Edward was a member of the volunteer ambulance and fire department. He did carpentry jobs for people that no one else would do. He loved being in his shop tinkering with anything. He built wooden bassinets, wooden toyboxes and wooden pull trucks for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He made the house smell of sawdust. He loved to have family with him downstairs at his shop. Edward built the home that he lived in for sixty years.

He enjoyed playing pinochle but most of all he loved to visit.

Edward is survived by his wife of 65 years, Vera of Cando; son, Terry (Corinne) of Bismarck, ND; daughters, Nancy Lee of International Falls, MN and Kristi (Rick) Weyrauch of Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Elizabeth Wilke, Erik Weyrauch, Makenzie (Danae) Schafer, Myles Schafer; great-grandchildren, McKenna & Madilyn Wilke, Ada and Scout Schafer; siblings, Donald Lee, Elaine Molnar, Monica Ritten, David Lee; and many nieces and nephews.

Edward was preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Leona, Judy, Carol, brothers; Robert, Maurice, in-laws; Errol Loken, Don Schiel, Gennie Loken, Suzanne Loken and Albert and Wilma Loken.