Lee, 91, died November 25, 2015, at his home in Colville, Washington. He was a graduate of the University of Idaho School of Forestry. Lee served in the Airborne during WWII and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.

After graduation Lee worked for the USFS on the Lolo N.F. and the Colville N.F. He jumped at McCall in 1946 and Missoula 1947-53.