Valeria Lee

Valeria "Val" (nee Mlynek) Lee was born to Helen and John Mlynek on February 11, 1930 outside of Independence, WI.    Growing up in the town of Independence, Val graduated from high school in 1948.  Shortly thereafter she moved to Rochester, Minnesota where she attended Secretarial school.   From there she moved to the city of Minneapolis and met her soon to be husband, Richard "Dick" Lee, who she married August 28, 1954.  Nine months later, and for the next four years a child was born (five children in five years).  Val and Dick lived in Fridley, MN for a period of time.  In 1958 Dick built Val a house in Columbia Heights where they resided until 2014 when she relocated to Park River Estates Care Center in Coon Rapids, MN.  In 1968 Val started working for Montgomery Ward catalog department in Apache Plaza, moving to Roseville when Apache closed.  Val was known for her beautiful smile and quiet quick wit.    Her favorite hobby was shopping for the good deals and visiting with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Family was everything and her pride in her family could keep her talking for hours. What she did best was give love and be loved.

Val was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and John Mlynek, husband Richard "Dick", brothers Clarence (Florence), Rudy Mlynek, sister Joyce (Bob) Gunderson.  Val is survived by her five loving children, Beth Matchey, Barb Darsow, Rick Lee, Terri (Sam) Matchey and Tim (Nancy Kintop) Lee; grandchildren Nathan, Katie, Jesse, Ryan, Patrick, Jonathan (JD), Matt, Andrew, Jake, Jolene, Anna, Erin, great-grandchildren Chase, Spencer, Mason, Jake, Sophia, Talia, Evelyn and Ella, sister-in-law Joyce Mlynek, and brother-in-law David (Barb) Lee.

Mass of Christian burial 10 am Friday with visitation at 9 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 4030 Jackson Street NE, Columbia Heights, MN.  Internment will be at Fort Snelling at a later date.  Special thanks to the staff and friends at Park River Estates Care Center for their loving care and compassion throughout Val's end of this life journey.