Lee Ramsdell

Lee A. Ramsdell 67, of Isabella, went to join his loved ones in Heaven, Friday, November 3, 2017.

He was born August 3, 1950 to Evelyn (DeChaine) and Aaron Ramsdell in Brainerd.  He attended Bemidji State College and majored in teaching and industrial Arts in 1973.  He had a teaching job offer, but decided to work at Northshore Mining in Silver Bay due to better wages.  His positions varied from starting in the yards and docks, to finishing as foreman at the basin.  When he was laid off at the plant from 1984 to 1989, he ran his own logging business.  Lee was also County Commissioner for 8 years.  It was during that time, that he sustained the accident that would cause his health to decline.  He made the best of his retirement years by wintering in Mexico on his ocean side property.  He did his own remodeling of his McDougal lake cabin and added two extra bedrooms, one for his mother when she visited and the other for his grand kids!  He loved to fish; hunt and spend time with friends, family and especially his grandchildren.  Friends remember him as a “gentle-man with a generous heart who loved to ‘teach’ you a lesson or help you with your life.”

He is preceded in death by both parents; wife “Betsy”, and niece Beth.

Lee is survived by sons; Patrick (Terri Jo) and Larry (Jennifer); stepsons, Ben (Kelly) Ray, and Ross (Kathy) Ray; sister, Cheryl (Jerome) Jurek; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Bob) Jones; nieces, Ann (John), Ashley, Sarah, and Brittney (Dan); nephews, Jon (Brenda) and Kyle; grandchildren, Cody, Alix, Aurora, Airen, Sawyer, Boone, Courtney, Ben Jr., Karah, Ben, and special friend, Orbeline in Mexico.

Celebration of Life will be held from 2-5 PM Saturday, November 18, 2017 at the Claire Nelson Center in Finland.