Leland James

HOFF FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE, RUSHFORD 507-864-7771RUSHFORD, MINN. - Leland Warren "Lee" James, 78, of Rushford, Minn. died on Monday, March 5, 2012, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford. Lee was born on May 24, 1933 to Melvin and Ella (Overby) James. He graduated from Rushford High School in 1951. Lee entered the U.S. Navy boot camp in 1951, at Great Lakes, Ill. He trained in Memphis, Tenn., as an aviation structural mechanic. He served two tours. His first duty station was NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. He then transferred to the NAS Alameda, California, from 1951 to 1954. Lee was discharged as E-5 in 1955.Lee then attended the University of Minnesota, St. Paul. On September 28, 1957, he was united in marriage with Donna "Toots" Woxland. They were married for 54 years. Lee was employed as a structural mechanic at Northwest Airlines in St. Paul, Minn. from 1957 to 1961. He was then employed at Tri- County Electric in Rushford from 1961 to 1970. Lee was also active in the Naval Reserves from 1965 to 1969. Over the next 18 years, he was employed at Badger Construction and Bakken Construction. Lee became semi-retired in 1997. In the fall of 1997 he joined the crew at Norsland Lefse, retiring in 2008. Lee was a member of the Rushford American Legion. He was active in the Rushford Lutheran Church where he was a church council member and Sunday school teacher. Lee was a Boy Scout Leader. He was part of the first Rushford Ambulance crew and taught first aid classes. Lee's hobbies included Nascar (Ford drivers), hunting, arrow-head hunting, computer games, military history, reading, berry-picking, scenic drives and his grand-kids. Lee is survived by his wife, Donna and their children: Scott (Christi) James and daughter, Cassie; Nancy (Geff) Dornink and daughter, Holli, son Adam and daughter Kerri; Todd (Michele) James and sons, Erick and Matthew and daughter, Katie; Kristine James (Ray Oman) and daughters, Sawyer and Madeline and son, Jacob; two great-grandchildren, Adam and Brynlee; one aunt, Helen Rustad, and many cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles. The service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Peterson, Minn. with the Rev. Wade Davick officiating. Burial will be in the Rushford Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Rushford. Leave a memory of Lee, sign his online guestbook and view his tribute video when it becomes available online at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/289109