Lee Stephen Wright, 93, Sturgis, died Sunday, August 4, 2013, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Fort Meade Community Living Center following an extended illness.

Visitation will be Tuesday, August 6th from noon to 8:00 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by Rapid City Post 1273 Honor Guard.

Lee was born December 10, 1919, at Vale, SD, to William and Jessie (Berry) Wright. He grew up and attended school in Vale. Lee served in the US Army from 1944 until his honorable discharge in 1946.

Lee moved to Iowa then returned to South Dakota. He married Mildred Osborne in Spearfish in 1938. To this union, two children were born, John and Gussie. Following Mildred's death, he married Vera King in 1963. After Vera's death, Lee married Eleanor Kopp in Sturgis in 1993.

Lee worked at Homestake Gold Mine in Lead for 34 years. He retired in 1982.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi, the Knights of Columbus, and Sturgis Golden K Kiwanis. Lee enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, playing cards, and spending time with his family and his extended family.

Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Wright, Sturgis; his daughter, Gussie Erickson, Sturgis; his stepsons, J. Ed (Debra) King, Meeker, CO, Dik (Suzanne) Kopp, Newcastle, WY, Dennis (Tina) Kopp, Sturgis, and Neil (Mary) Kopp, Newcastle, WY; stepdaughters, Paula (Robert) Whetzal, Sturgis, Bonnie Bruch, Sturgis, Patti (Kim) Coe, Vale, SD, Connie Grayum, Locust Grove, OK, and Carmen (Todd) Sherman, Wilmington, NC; twenty-nine grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Mildred and Vera; his son, John Wright; two grandsons, Trent Coe and Byron Crown; and six brothers and sisters.

A memorial has been established to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

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