LEE A. MONSON

LEE A MONSON

Lee Monson, Cooperstown, North Dakota passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND surrounded by family.

Lee Arden Monson was born November 4, 1949 to Melfred and Margaret (Johnson) Monson in Sharon, North Dakota. He was a 1967 graduate of Cooperstown High School.  Lee was a great athlete. He played basketball on the State Qualifying team of 1967. In track, he held the record for the 440 yard dash until 2004 with a run of 50.3 seconds.  He then attended NDSU in Fargo, ND until he was drafted into the armed forces.

Lee entered the Marine Corps in 1969. During his time with the Marine Corps Lee was the 5^th person in the history of the corps to score a perfect 500 on his PT test. He was honorably discharged on February 4^th, 1970.  When he returned to the family ranch, Lee started work with a Local 548 as a millwright out of St. Paul, Minnesota.  He worked on power plants, grain handling facilities, paper mills, and many other types of factories. Lee retired as a millwright in 2006. Lee continued to work on the Monson Ranch raising cattle, elk and pheasants.

In 1994, Lee married the love of his life Sheila Fahlgren. He became a dad to her 3 sons Jason, Jeff and Andy.  He also was a very proud, hands-on grandpa to their 9 grandchildren and enjoyed attending many of their sporting events through the years. Lee and Sheila loved antiquing and exploring the country for a good deal and spent the last 10 winters down south, traveling the hill country in Texas.

Lee loved his country and the great outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and was a wildlife enthusiast. Lee enjoyed playing baseball in his younger years and softball into his 50’s. He loved working on the Monson Ranch in the Sheyenne River Valley and enjoyed time at their cabin at the Missouri River near Washburn. Lee and Sheila enjoyed hours of watching wildlife from their front porch and jumping in a vehicle for an evening drive. Lee always had a project to work on and he never found a task that he couldn’t tackle.

Lee is survived by his wife Sheila, son Jason (Stephanie) and children Katelynn & Jake (Ponder Texas); son Jeff (Lisa) and children Billy, Hunter, Alex & Jonah (Minot, ND); son Andy (Brittany) and children Isaac, Ava & Axel (Marana AZ); brother Albert Monson (Appleton, MN); sister Lori Brothen (Kent) Breezy Point, MN); and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents Melfred and Margaret, sisters Betty, Irene & Gail; brother David and nephew Steven.

Visitation will be Friday, December 15, 2023 from 6:00 pm till 7:00 pm with a Prayer Service at 6:00 pm in the Quam-Plaisted-Cushman Funeral Home, Cooperstown, ND.  Visitation will continue Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00 am in Sheyenne Valley Lutheran Church, rural Finley, ND followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 am.  Interment will be at 1:00 pm in the Riverside Cemetery, rural Cooperstown, ND.