Lee Churchill, 91

Lee A. Churchill passed away peacefully at his adult family home in Federal Way, Wash.

Born on April 23, 1933, he was 91 years old. The youngest of eight children, he was born at home to Olive and Harlan Churchill. They lived on a dairy farm in Sandpoint, Idaho.

He joined the Army in March 1953. He served in the 7th Armored Division as a radio operator and was awarded three medals: National Defense Service, United Nations Service and Korean Service. He was released from active military service and transferred to the Army Reserve to complete his eight years in July 1953.

His wife, Lanora, passed away May 18, 2023. They had been married 47 years. Lee had been married to Ruth. Although this did not last, they had three children together: Jeannie, Julie and Charles, who passed away May 11, 2000. Lanora also had been previously married and had four children, Joseph, MaryAnne, Michael and James.

In the late 1970s, Lee and Lanora moved to Fairbanks, Alaska. Lee began working as a trailer truck driver on the North Slope for the Alaska Pipeline. He was a proud Western Washington and Alaska Teamster member until the end.

Lee and Lanora enjoyed their many grandkids and great-grandkids. In the early 1990s when they lived on Camano Island, some of the grandkids would come and stay during the summer. There would be April, Ryan Lisa, Creighton, Summer, Kate and Charly. This became known as "Camp Churchill."

Before retirement, Lee was an independent trucker picking up loads in the Everett and Seattle area. After he retired, they sold their home and wanted to be snowbirds. They would winter in Parker, Ariz., and come to Sandpoint, Idaho, in the summer. Eventually, they moved to the Seattle area to be close to family.

In honor of Lee and Lanora's life together there will be a memorial at Gamlin Lake Cemetery on June 21, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.