1937-2008

Surrounded by his family, in the comfort of his home, Leland (Lee) Roy Nelson, 71, completed his life's journey, entering his eternal home June 1, 2008.

Leland began his life's journey on March 3, 1937, in Sidney. He was the first born of Alice and Soren Nelson. After work in the oil fields in Montana, he served in the U.S. Army. Upon completion of his military service, he attended Montana State University-Bozeman where he received a Bachelor of Science in accounting as well as attaining an honorary national commerce award from Pi Omega Pi. Leland was a member of the National and Western Association of College and University of Business Officers.

Upon graduation, he served as business manager of the Montana state training school and hospital at Boulder from June 1963-1968. It was there where he met his wife, Margaret "Peg" McEnaney, of Helena. They were married July 9, 1966, in Boulder. Two children completed their family, Troy Michael and Tara Leanne.

Lee and Peg moved to Bozeman in 1968. He assumed the role of assistant director of administration at Montana State University. In 1995, he retired with 35 years of service with the state of Montana and relocated to Powell, Wyo., where he and Peg have resided ever since.

Leland was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, both in Bozeman and in Powell. He was a member of the Optimist International, as well as a lieutenant governor of the Alberta-Montana-Saskatchewan District. He was a Little League and T-ball coach as well as cub-master of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of B.P.O.E. Lodge #463.

His love of the outdoors gave him many hours of fishing, hunting, camping, boating and backpacking pleasures, which earned him the name of "Lucky Lee." He was an avid trap shooter, and he found cooking and entertaining as well as woodworking and building activities a real joy. Additional blessings in Leland's life were being "Papa" to his granddaughters, Allie and Sydney, and friend and storyteller to all he met.

Survivors include his wife Peggy of 42 years; son Troy Nelson and granddaughters Allison and Sydney, Denver, Colo.; daughter Tara Nelson, Savoonga, Alaska; brother Jerry Nelson (Arlyss), Bozeman; sister Dorothy Cavener (Harold), Paul, Idaho; aunt Ann Peterson, Sidney; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Soren, and mother, Alice.

A memorial service was held at Hope Lutheran Church, Powell, Wyo., at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 5. A burial service will be held July 2 at the Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman. Thompson's Funeral Home, Powell, Wyo., will be handling the arrangements.

The family requests memorials be sent to Powell Valley Hospice, Powell, Wyo., or the Billings Clinics' Cancer Research Center, Billings.