R.Lee peacefully passed away Saturday, May 30, 2015, at his home, surrounded by loved ones, after fighting nearly a three-year battle with cancer. He showed cancer who was boss, showed us how to live, and showed us how to die, living life to the fullest until the end, never taking himself too seriously, and helping everyone he met feel comfortable through his sense of humor and wit. Blessed be his memory.
R.Lee John Ginsbach was born January 24, 1953, to Raymond and Beryl (Sisco) Ginsbach in Jamestown, ND. He lived in Edmunds, ND, until his family moved to Ellendale, ND, in 1959. He attended school in Ellendale where he made lifelong friends, graduating from Ellendale High School with the Class of 1971. He received the 1971 North Dakota Mr. Future Business Leader of America Award.
In 1975, he graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, where he made lifelong friends.
After college, R.Lee began his lifelong employment with the State of South Dakota as Chief Fiscal Officer for the Board of Regents Office in Pierre. In 1978, he accepted the position at Northern State University as Chief Accountant and Assistant Business Manager until 1983, when he became the Business Manager for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. During his 32 years at SDSBVI, his duties were combined twice with School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, having again held that position the past five years. He had a passion for learning of and acquiring assistive technology for the special schools. He met many colleagues and co-workers during these years who became his good friends. It was with a heavy heart that his health forced him to retire in March of this year.
During high school in Ellendale, R.Lee met the love of his life, Carol Marttila. R.Lee and Carol were married August 7, 1976. On May 30, 1990, they were overjoyed to receive their long-awaited baby through adoption, Rebecca Jean Ginsbach.
R.Lee had a love for all sports. He grew up playing Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball in Ellendale and was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He spent much of his teenage years hunting and fishing with his father and close friends. While in college, he lettered on the NSU tennis team and loved playing foosball. After college, he played softball in Pierre and Aberdeen, as well as racquetball and tennis. He loved playing cards where his memory for numbers came in handy. His love of bowling and golf began while growing up in Ellendale, becoming the sports he continued throughout his life. He won numerous tournaments, trophies, and awards while making lifelong friends along the way.
R.Lee was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, who’s Light of the World group became a special way to rekindle his strong faith and be a witness to others. He taught Junior Bowling at the Village Bowl and bowled in the Merchants Classic and Huff and Puff Leagues, was a member of Lee Park Golf Course, Elks Club, Lions Club and Moccasin Creek Country Club, where he enjoyed many afternoons on the course with the "noon group". He served on the SDSBVI Foundation as its Secretary-Treasurer and was a board member and President of Aspire, Inc.
Thankful for having shared in R.Lee's life is his wife Carol; daughter Rebecca; sisters Jean Weatherly and Nancy Wolf; brother-in-law Warren Aafedt; brothers-in-law, Michael Marttila and Robert Marttila; sister-in-law, Deb Nordman; and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
R.Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Joyce Aafedt, brothers-in-law Melvin Weatherly and Ronald Wolf, father-in-law Floyd Marttila, mother-in-law Frances Marttila, and sister-in-law, Mary Elaine Marttila.
R.Lee's family extends their deepest gratitude to Drs Conklin, Nelson, Adolfson and their entire staff for their extra-loving care.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser, Celebrant.
R.Lee's wishes were to be cremated with burial taking place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Adapted from Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory obituary
R.Lee John Ginsbach was born January 24, 1953, to Raymond and Beryl (Sisco) Ginsbach in Jamestown, ND. He lived in Edmunds, ND, until his family moved to Ellendale, ND, in 1959. He attended school in Ellendale where he made lifelong friends, graduating from Ellendale High School with the Class of 1971. He received the 1971 North Dakota Mr. Future Business Leader of America Award.
In 1975, he graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, where he made lifelong friends.
After college, R.Lee began his lifelong employment with the State of South Dakota as Chief Fiscal Officer for the Board of Regents Office in Pierre. In 1978, he accepted the position at Northern State University as Chief Accountant and Assistant Business Manager until 1983, when he became the Business Manager for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. During his 32 years at SDSBVI, his duties were combined twice with School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, having again held that position the past five years. He had a passion for learning of and acquiring assistive technology for the special schools. He met many colleagues and co-workers during these years who became his good friends. It was with a heavy heart that his health forced him to retire in March of this year.
During high school in Ellendale, R.Lee met the love of his life, Carol Marttila. R.Lee and Carol were married August 7, 1976. On May 30, 1990, they were overjoyed to receive their long-awaited baby through adoption, Rebecca Jean Ginsbach.
R.Lee had a love for all sports. He grew up playing Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball in Ellendale and was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He spent much of his teenage years hunting and fishing with his father and close friends. While in college, he lettered on the NSU tennis team and loved playing foosball. After college, he played softball in Pierre and Aberdeen, as well as racquetball and tennis. He loved playing cards where his memory for numbers came in handy. His love of bowling and golf began while growing up in Ellendale, becoming the sports he continued throughout his life. He won numerous tournaments, trophies, and awards while making lifelong friends along the way.
R.Lee was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, who’s Light of the World group became a special way to rekindle his strong faith and be a witness to others. He taught Junior Bowling at the Village Bowl and bowled in the Merchants Classic and Huff and Puff Leagues, was a member of Lee Park Golf Course, Elks Club, Lions Club and Moccasin Creek Country Club, where he enjoyed many afternoons on the course with the "noon group". He served on the SDSBVI Foundation as its Secretary-Treasurer and was a board member and President of Aspire, Inc.
Thankful for having shared in R.Lee's life is his wife Carol; daughter Rebecca; sisters Jean Weatherly and Nancy Wolf; brother-in-law Warren Aafedt; brothers-in-law, Michael Marttila and Robert Marttila; sister-in-law, Deb Nordman; and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
R.Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Joyce Aafedt, brothers-in-law Melvin Weatherly and Ronald Wolf, father-in-law Floyd Marttila, mother-in-law Frances Marttila, and sister-in-law, Mary Elaine Marttila.
R.Lee's family extends their deepest gratitude to Drs Conklin, Nelson, Adolfson and their entire staff for their extra-loving care.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser, Celebrant.
R.Lee's wishes were to be cremated with burial taking place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Adapted from Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory obituary
R.Lee peacefully passed away Saturday, May 30, 2015, at his home, surrounded by loved ones, after fighting nearly a three-year battle with cancer. He showed cancer who was boss, showed us how to live, and showed us how to die, living life to the fullest until the end, never taking himself too seriously, and helping everyone he met feel comfortable through his sense of humor and wit. Blessed be his memory.
R.Lee John Ginsbach was born January 24, 1953, to Raymond and Beryl (Sisco) Ginsbach in Jamestown, ND. He lived in Edmunds, ND, until his family moved to Ellendale, ND, in 1959. He attended school in Ellendale where he made lifelong friends, graduating from Ellendale High School with the Class of 1971. He received the 1971 North Dakota Mr. Future Business Leader of America Award.
In 1975, he graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, where he made lifelong friends.
After college, R.Lee began his lifelong employment with the State of South Dakota as Chief Fiscal Officer for the Board of Regents Office in Pierre. In 1978, he accepted the position at Northern State University as Chief Accountant and Assistant Business Manager until 1983, when he became the Business Manager for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. During his 32 years at SDSBVI, his duties were combined twice with School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, having again held that position the past five years. He had a passion for learning of and acquiring assistive technology for the special schools. He met many colleagues and co-workers during these years who became his good friends. It was with a heavy heart that his health forced him to retire in March of this year.
During high school in Ellendale, R.Lee met the love of his life, Carol Marttila. R.Lee and Carol were married August 7, 1976. On May 30, 1990, they were overjoyed to receive their long-awaited baby through adoption, Rebecca Jean Ginsbach.
R.Lee had a love for all sports. He grew up playing Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball in Ellendale and was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He spent much of his teenage years hunting and fishing with his father and close friends. While in college, he lettered on the NSU tennis team and loved playing foosball. After college, he played softball in Pierre and Aberdeen, as well as racquetball and tennis. He loved playing cards where his memory for numbers came in handy. His love of bowling and golf began while growing up in Ellendale, becoming the sports he continued throughout his life. He won numerous tournaments, trophies, and awards while making lifelong friends along the way.
R.Lee was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, who’s Light of the World group became a special way to rekindle his strong faith and be a witness to others. He taught Junior Bowling at the Village Bowl and bowled in the Merchants Classic and Huff and Puff Leagues, was a member of Lee Park Golf Course, Elks Club, Lions Club and Moccasin Creek Country Club, where he enjoyed many afternoons on the course with the "noon group". He served on the SDSBVI Foundation as its Secretary-Treasurer and was a board member and President of Aspire, Inc.
Thankful for having shared in R.Lee's life is his wife Carol; daughter Rebecca; sisters Jean Weatherly and Nancy Wolf; brother-in-law Warren Aafedt; brothers-in-law, Michael Marttila and Robert Marttila; sister-in-law, Deb Nordman; and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
R.Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Joyce Aafedt, brothers-in-law Melvin Weatherly and Ronald Wolf, father-in-law Floyd Marttila, mother-in-law Frances Marttila, and sister-in-law, Mary Elaine Marttila.
R.Lee's family extends their deepest gratitude to Drs Conklin, Nelson, Adolfson and their entire staff for their extra-loving care.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser, Celebrant.
R.Lee's wishes were to be cremated with burial taking place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Adapted from Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory obituary
R.Lee John Ginsbach was born January 24, 1953, to Raymond and Beryl (Sisco) Ginsbach in Jamestown, ND. He lived in Edmunds, ND, until his family moved to Ellendale, ND, in 1959. He attended school in Ellendale where he made lifelong friends, graduating from Ellendale High School with the Class of 1971. He received the 1971 North Dakota Mr. Future Business Leader of America Award.
In 1975, he graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, where he made lifelong friends.
After college, R.Lee began his lifelong employment with the State of South Dakota as Chief Fiscal Officer for the Board of Regents Office in Pierre. In 1978, he accepted the position at Northern State University as Chief Accountant and Assistant Business Manager until 1983, when he became the Business Manager for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. During his 32 years at SDSBVI, his duties were combined twice with School for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, having again held that position the past five years. He had a passion for learning of and acquiring assistive technology for the special schools. He met many colleagues and co-workers during these years who became his good friends. It was with a heavy heart that his health forced him to retire in March of this year.
During high school in Ellendale, R.Lee met the love of his life, Carol Marttila. R.Lee and Carol were married August 7, 1976. On May 30, 1990, they were overjoyed to receive their long-awaited baby through adoption, Rebecca Jean Ginsbach.
R.Lee had a love for all sports. He grew up playing Babe Ruth and American Legion Baseball in Ellendale and was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He spent much of his teenage years hunting and fishing with his father and close friends. While in college, he lettered on the NSU tennis team and loved playing foosball. After college, he played softball in Pierre and Aberdeen, as well as racquetball and tennis. He loved playing cards where his memory for numbers came in handy. His love of bowling and golf began while growing up in Ellendale, becoming the sports he continued throughout his life. He won numerous tournaments, trophies, and awards while making lifelong friends along the way.
R.Lee was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, who’s Light of the World group became a special way to rekindle his strong faith and be a witness to others. He taught Junior Bowling at the Village Bowl and bowled in the Merchants Classic and Huff and Puff Leagues, was a member of Lee Park Golf Course, Elks Club, Lions Club and Moccasin Creek Country Club, where he enjoyed many afternoons on the course with the "noon group". He served on the SDSBVI Foundation as its Secretary-Treasurer and was a board member and President of Aspire, Inc.
Thankful for having shared in R.Lee's life is his wife Carol; daughter Rebecca; sisters Jean Weatherly and Nancy Wolf; brother-in-law Warren Aafedt; brothers-in-law, Michael Marttila and Robert Marttila; sister-in-law, Deb Nordman; and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
R.Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Joyce Aafedt, brothers-in-law Melvin Weatherly and Ronald Wolf, father-in-law Floyd Marttila, mother-in-law Frances Marttila, and sister-in-law, Mary Elaine Marttila.
R.Lee's family extends their deepest gratitude to Drs Conklin, Nelson, Adolfson and their entire staff for their extra-loving care.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser, Celebrant.
R.Lee's wishes were to be cremated with burial taking place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Adapted from Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory obituary
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