Herman H. Lee

Herman Hilford Lee, 91, of Fargo ND, formerly of Borup, MN died Saturday, February 20 at Bethany on 42nd in Fargo, ND. Herman was born October 17, 1924 to Johnnie Lawrence Lee and Sara Lee in Ada, MN. He was baptized December 17, 1924 and confirmed June 4, 1939 into the Lutheran faith, in Hendrum. Herman grew up there where his family farmed. When Herman was 3 years old his mother Sara died. Lawrence later was married to Alma Ness, who raised Herman, his two brothers, LeRoy and Irving, and sister, Ardis. Herman attended school at the Wide Awake country school, and graduated from Hendrum High School.
Herman was married to Lenora Mae Maurstad on June 4, 1949 in Winchester Lutheran Church, Borup, MN where he remained a member, and served as church council president and treasurer for many years. Herman and Lenora had two children Harlan and Lenae.
Herman and Lenora began farming near Borup in 1949 and specialized in growing and processing certified seeds. In 1965 Lee Seed Farm built a seed conditioning plant on the farm along MN Hwy 9 which became a landmark for travelers for many years.
In 1963 Herman helped to pioneer the introduction of edible beans in the Red River Valley when he began to grow pinto beans. He formed Lee Bean & Seed, Inc. in order to process and market the beans for his own production and dozens of contract growers. He was active in many agricultural groups including the Minnesota Crop Improvement, Red River Sugar Beet Growers, Agassiz Club, Northwest Farm Managers, Migrant Missions, and the North Central Bean Dealers.
Herman had many other business ventures including Dynamic Industries, Barnesville MN; Northern Instruments, St. Paul; BioMedicus, Minneapolis; and Hidden Lakes Apartments, Greensboro, NC.
Herman served on the board of directors for Oak Grove Lutheran High School, and was an original member of the C-400 Club at Concordia College. He was a tireless recruiter for C-400 and was given many awards including the C-400 Soli Deo Gloria award. When Concordia built the bell tower in the center of the campus, Herman and Lenora donated the bells and the cross that sit atop the campanile.
Herman loved God, the church, his family, and the farm.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Irving Lee of Ada, MN, and LeRoy Lee of Brainerd, MN.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years Lenora, Fargo; sister Ardis Engel, Moorhead; sister-in-law Hilda Lee, Brainerd; son Harlan Linda Lee, Cambridge, MN;, daughter Lenae Mark Harless, Borup, MN; grandchildren Jeff Lee, Lewiston, ID; Brandon Alison Lee, West Fargo; Aaron Marian Lee, Greensboro; NC, Paul Danielle Harless, Halstad, MN; Annika Lee Harless, Minneapolis, MN; and great grandchildren Trent, Jaden, and Lawson Lee, West Fargo; Ceres, Teigen, Kasen Lee, West Fargo; and Henrik Herman Harless, Halstad, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
The family requests memorials be given to Winchester Lutheran Church, or the Bethany Foundation.

Visitation: Friday, February 26, 2016, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. There will also be visitation for one hour prior to the funeral in the church.
Funeral: Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. in Winchester Lutheran Church, Borup, MN.
Interment: Winchester Lutheran Cemetery, Borup, MN.