Leif Lie

Leif Haakon Lie, born on October 26, 1915 to Halvard and Ingebjorg (Omtveit) Lie in Rushford , Minnesota passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 92 years of age. Mr. Lie graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Agriculture and Economics in 1940 and completed training at the U.S. Naval Aviator Training Center on October 15, 1940. He served from 1940 to 1945 as a pilot with the U.S. Navy – some of the time in the Alaska Alution Islands . From 1945 to 1960, he was a member of the Active Reserve with the Navy. Throughout his life, Mr. Lie was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and enjoyed identification of trees, wildflowers, plants and animals and birds. His interest in his wresting team members continued long after retirement, and his annual pancake suppers for his wrestlers were an event he looked forward to every year as a coach.

In 1946, he became Assistant Agriculture Agent in Mill Lacs County , then Agriculture Agent in Stevens County from 1945 to 1962. His love of wrestling led him to become a Wrestling Coach at the University Farm School in St. Paul . While in Morris, he served as the wrestling coach for the West Central School (1960 to 1972), and later for the University of Minnesota at Morris. In 1956, the West Central School yearbook (the Moccasin) was dedicated to Leif Lie. Written was “We dedicate…To you, Mr. Leif Lie, this 1956 Moccasin… for your successful piloting of our wrestling crews through many successful voyages when the prospects have not seemed to promising at the onset…for your untiring efforts in molding the characters, minds and bodies of our students into the type of sailors who will be the ideal citizens of tomorrow. After retiring from the job as Agricultural Agent in Morris, he worked as Executive Secretary for the Minnesota Beef Council from 1977 to 1978.

Mr. Lie was a member of the NCAA Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association from 1940 to 1967 and received a 25 year Distinguished Service Award. He was also a member of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association, the Minnesota Extension Agents Association and National Association as well as serving on the Board of Directors. He was an aircraft owner and member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He was Director of the County Youth Firearms Safety Training from 1956 to 1963 and served as an instructor from 1956 to 1972. A member of the Morris Community Industrial Development Corporation from 1956 to 1972, he served as the Director in 1956 and President from 1964 to 1968.

Mr. Lie was a member of the Morris Rifle Club, Inc and served as Executive Director for five years, was a member of the Alberta Wildlife Federation, the VFW, Pomme de Terre Flying Club, Inc. and was a commission representative Airport Advisor in 1967. He served as Executive Secretary for the Stevens County Planning Commission in 1966. He was given awards from the Minnesota Beef Council and the Minnesota Beef Feeders Association. Leif Lie was a contributor and Plank Owner for the Navy Memorial in New York City and a Plank Owner for the Statue of Liberty at Ellis Island . On the occasion of his 90 ^th Birthday, his children presented him with a sky map that identified a star registered in his name – The Leif Haakon Lie Star.

Leif married Doris Ann (Sanny) Smith in 1941 and together they had four children. Sanny died in 1985. In 1987, he married Evelynn Joyce Williams and they resided in Utah and later in the Black Hills in Custer and Hill City , South Dakota before moving back to the Morris area in 2000.

In addition to Sanny Lie, he was preceded in death by his parents, as well as brothers: Eric, Hans, Herald, Dagfinn, Paul and sister: Rachel. He is survived by his wife: Evelynn Lie of Morris; two sons: Haakon (Elisabeth) Lie of Billings, MT and Eric Lie of Brisbane, Australia; two daughters: Bonne (John) Williams of North Dakota and Laurie (Charles) Lesmeister of Morris; step-children: David (LeAnne) Hatch of Oceanside, CA, Carol Beinbrech of Phoenix, AZ, Kenneth Williams of West Branch, IA and Kathy Davis of Tipton, IA. He has five grandchildren from his marriage with Sanny including: Jodi (John) Straight, Nikki (Scot) Danzeisen, Lindsey Lie, Justin Lie and Heidi Williams. He has four great grandchildren including: Baily and Brody Danzeisen and Justin and John Straight. He and Evelyn have four grandchildren including: Bryan and Jason Davis and Matthew and Kaylee Beinbreck and two great-grandchildren including: Alane and Katelyn Davis. In addition he is survived by his three sisters: Aasta (Allen) Slagle of Madison, WI, Lydia Lie of Thief River Falls and Thora Pearce of Longmont , CO

Honorary pallbearers are: Haakon Lie, Eric Lie, Chuck Lesmeister and John Williams. Deb Mahoney will serve as organist for the service. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements. At Mr. Lie’s request and in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Salvation Army.