Marlene 'Mitzi' E. Lee
MORA - Marlene "Mitzi" E. Lee, age 70, died Nov. 3, 2008, at her home in Mora, Minn. She was born Jan. 26, 1938, to Marion and Elaine (Griffith) Higginbotham at Kelly Lake, Minn. Mitzi grew up in Kelly Lake and lived with her grandmother, Alma McKee, for a time.
Mitzi raised three children in Hibbing and Staples. She went back to school in Eveleth, Minn., for training as an optical technician. She moved to Staples in 1970 to work for Benson Optical. She worked for them for 19 years. When Benson Optical closed, Mitzi returned to school to become a graphic artist. She moved to Mora in 1992 to work in the graphics department at Fingerhut. When Fingerhut closed, retirement was Mitzi's main goal. Mitzi was an avid bowler while she lived in Staples. She loved to knit and crochet.
Mitzi is preceded in death by an infant son, Jody A. Lee; her parents, Elaine and Marion; her grandmother, Alma; and stepfather, John Korhonen.
Marlene Lee
Mitzi is survived by her daughter, Penny R. Lee, of Hibbing; sons, Michael L. Lee, of Mora, and Bruce D. Lee, of Staples; her special companion of 21 years, Duane Doty, of Mora; sister, Joyce (Richard) Baxter, of Cambridge; nephews, Rick Baxter, Terry (Debbie) Baxter; nieces, Cheryl (Dave) Rogers, Connie (Terry) Knutson; Duane's daughters, Tamara (Chad) Kreutzer, of St. Cloud, and Angela Asbury, of Charlotte, N.C. Other relatives and friends also survive.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Akkerman-Ingebrand Funeral Home of Mora. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Akkerman-Ingebrand Funeral and Cremation Service of Mora, Minn.