Marie Lee of Watkins died Thursday, Jan. 19 2023, at St. Cloud Hospital. She was 88.
Memorial services and burial will be held in Kingston at a later date.
Marie Elfreda Oldenburg was born Feb. 17, 1934, in Litchfield to Albert and Marie (Joecks) Oldenburg. She grew up in Litchfield where she graduated high school with the class of 1952. In November 1953, she was united into marriage with Melvin Ranta. During their 25-year marriage they were blessed with five children. Together they raised their children on a farm on Lake Frances. They later divorced. In 1993, she was united into marriage with Duane Lee. Together they lived in North Wood, Iowa, and spent their winters in Apache Junction, Ariz.
Marie was known for her love of canning. Her jam was a favorite among her family, especially choke cherry. Marie gathered her own berries in the woods for her jam. One of the things she looked forward to the most was playing cards and spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoyed finding treasures at garage sales, and traveling. Marie traveled to Germany, Alaska, Washington, and to her favorite place Hawaii.
Marie’s devotion to her family, her witty personality, and her bright smile will be missed deeply. Marie’s motto in life was, “Never give up.”
Marie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Duane Lee, son Darrell Ranta, grandson Lee Ranta Jr.; brothers Ernest, Paul, Ervin, Carl, and infant brother Otto; and sisters Regina and Erna.
She is survived by her children Alan (and Sara) Ranta of Red Wing, Minn., LuAnn (and Mike) Lizotte of Selah, Wash., Lee Ranta of Yakima, Wash., and Tom (and Chris) Ranta of South Haven; eight grandchildren Ryan, Noele, Tim, Sara, Jason, Ben, Sam, Amy, and Joe, and 17 great-grandchildren; siblings Pete (and Edna) Oldenburg of Dassel, Alice (and Bob) Harding of Litchfield, and Irene Burress of Westminister, Colo.