Lee Etta (Allen) Mead
July 9, 1945 – May 26, 2019

Lee Etta, age 73, passed away peacefully on May 26th, 2019 at Ecumen Pathstone Living.

Lee Etta was born and raised in Idaho. She was swept off her feet by the love of her life, Don, was married and moved to Hawaii where he was stationed with the US Navy. They moved to Minnesota and began their family. She spent her life being a devoted wife, loving mother, endearing grandmother and great grandmother. She was often identified as a mother to many. She loved spending time with her family and friends and always enjoyed the holidays throughout the year. She always looked forward to visiting her family in Idaho. She was the church “Historian” and she lived for the Lord and by her faith. Lee Etta worked as a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn downtown for 12 years and then worked for Head Start as a classroom aide. In her free time, she enjoyed planting in her flower gardens and taking walks while Don fished. She liked being involved in the Koppen Gardens community and visiting with all the residents.

Lee is survived by her loving husband, Donald W. Mead Sr., of 56 years; Four children, Donald Jr Mead (Brenda Albright) of Eagle Lake MN; Amy Mead (Charles Bittner) of North Mankato MN; Nathan Mead (Amy) of Eden Prairie MN; and Tina Mead of North Mankato. Twelve Grandchildren, Kayla, Dillon, Caleb, Patience, Jay, Peyton, Jonathan, Zachary, Karinna, Kyra, Kaylee and Karter; as well as five great grandchildren, Hailee, Jaxon, Dominic, Cali and Brooklyn. She was looking forward to welcoming her 6th great grandchild, Amari at the end of June.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 8th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1851 Marie Lane, North Mankato, MN 56003. There will be a visitation from 9:30-10:15am and service at 10:30am. The service will be officiated by Bishop Anderson.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Lee Etta Mead

June 12, 2019

Services were held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1851 Marie Lane, N Mankato, Minnesota.

Lee Etta was born July 9, 1943, to Joseph Earl Allen and Orma Delores Devine in the Cottage Hospital in Burley, ID. She was the sixth child of seven children.

Lee Etta was a beautiful little girl with long blonde ringlets. She began her first grade of school in the small town of Declo, ID. That year the family moved to Raft River, and she began the long school bus ride (25 miles) to American Falls, ID, for her schooling.

In 1955, the family moved to American Falls where her father purchased the Thornhill Cold Storage. Lee enjoyed living in town surrounded by her church and school friends. She participated in the Young Women’s Program where she earned Individual Awards, performed special dances at Gold and Green Balls and attended girls’ camps. She graduated from Early-Morning Seminary and from the American Falls High School in 1963.

Lee met Don Wilbur Mead who was in the U.S. Navy stationed at the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in Arco. He worked in the Nuclear Energy Laboratory where he learned, not only how to build nuclear reactors, but also, how to maintain these reactors that powered the nuclear submarine. Lee and Don were married Dec. 27, 1963, in American Falls. For two years the couple made their home in Hawaii while Don was serving on the USS Seadragon SSN 584 a State Class Nuclear powered submarine.

Upon his discharge from the U.S. Navy Don and Lee returned to his native state of Minnesota where he attended the University in Mankato. Don completed courses for a degree in secondary education in three disciplines: physics, math and science. However, he did not complete his student teaching, because all the schools in the Mankato area were flooded with student teachers, and they would have had to move to another area. So, he accepted a job in computer designing for The Perfect Seal Company in Mankato. He worked 35 years at this company before retiring with near perfect attendance at his work.

The couple made their home for the next 52 years in Mankato. Here their four children Don, Amy, Nate, and Tina were born, and here they attended church and school.

While Don was in school Lee worked at a cafe’ then at Woolworths as the fountain manager. Prior to retirement she worked at her most favorite job as an aide for the Head Start program for 15 years. She loved working with the children and became an advocate for each of them as she came to know and love them. Little children were her specialty. She often interceded for them in their individual needs.

Lee was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as secretary of the Relief Society, in public relations and worked in the Family History Center. Lee loved all her family unconditionally. She helped care for them throughout her life. A favorite hobby was crocheting. She crocheted afghans for all her family. While in the hospital she finished her last one for a great-grandson to be born in July. She crocheted and donated lap robes for the Veterans Hospital.

Lee was preceded in death by: her grandparents; parents Earl and Orma Allen; sisters Jude’ and Marilyn; brothers-in-law Don Glenn, Gail Lasley and Wesley Adkins; mother and father-in-law Ella Schroeder and Rex Mead.

Survivors include: brothers Joe (Marlene) Allen, Boise, and Richard (Loida) Allen, American Falls; sisters, Lois (Jeff) Fitzloff, Kuna, and Darlene Adkins, American Falls; husband, Donald W. Mead, Mankato; children, Donald William, Amy Lynette (Charlie), both of Mankato, Nathan Daniel (Amy), Eden Prairie, MN, and Kristina Kaye, Mankato; grandchildren, Kayla, Dillon, Caleb, Lisa, Karina, Kera, Zachery, Patience, Payton, Kaylee, Jay and Karter; great-grandchildren, Hailee, Jaxon, Dominic, Calie and Brooklyn,