Roland Frank 'Bud' Lee, 90 years old, a longtime resident of Prineville, Oregon, passed away peacefully
at home surrounded by family and friends on June 30, 2019.
Bud was born in Pendleton, Oregon, on December 23, 1928, son of the late Guy and Bessie (Morrison)
Lee. He graduated in 1946 from Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Oregon, where his dad was the
associate principal and his science teacher. Upon graduation, Bud joined the US Army and served in
Japan during the post-war occupation in the military police and trained as a paratrooper.
Following his service, he enrolled at Oregon State University on the G.I. Bill where he studied Forestry
and met and married Patricia Sheets, his wife of 67 years. Immediately after graduation, Bud began
his career as a forester with the Bureau of Land Management in Salem, Oregon. He regularly served as
a firefighter during fire season.
While in Salem, Bud and Pat had 3 daughters and enjoyed many outdoor activities with their friends
and co-workers in the BLM, forming a group called Uniteers. This group of families gathered together
every summer after many were transferred around the country with the Bureau.
The family was transferred to Prineville, Oregon for a short time in the early 1960's and Bud and Pat
quickly became enamored with Prineville's friendly and welcoming culture, not to mention the
beautiful countryside.
Transferred to Billings, Montana, Bud spent another 20 years with the BLM overseeing the sale and
leasing of Federal lands and minerals as Chief of the Branch of Lands and Minerals.
Bud and Pat retired in 1985, returned to Prineville and built their dream home on a hill off Gerke Road,
which had amazing views of the Cascades. Bud and Pat enjoyed traveling the US in their 5th wheel
trailer, circling the country several times. They joined a group of their Prineville friends and traveled
through Europe and Asia.
Bud enjoyed fishing, woodworking, reading, golfing and spending time with family and friends. He was
a member of Prineville Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis, and Prineville Athletic Club.
Bud is survived by: his wife, Pat; sister Donna MacDonald, husband, Bill; daughter, Catherine
Achenbach, husband, Lary; daughter, Lora Whearty, husband, Bruce; daughter, Janice Hinze, husband,
Lee; 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Bessie Lee and his brother, Allen Lee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the following organizations:
Prineville Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis Club of Prineville and Crook County Historical Society.
Special thanks to Partners in Care Hospice.
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