Leland 'Lee' Herbert Fountain, 86
Leland "Lee" Herbert Fountain, 86, "was carried home in the arms of the Lord," surrounded by loved ones Aug. 15, 2007. Lee was born July 10, 1921, in Wilder, Vt., to Peter and Anna (Nyren) Fountain. He graduated from Hartford High School class of 1941.
Lee entered the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1942 and served in the South Pacific Theater, seeing action in American Samoa, the Ellice Islands and Tarawa, spending most of his time as an artillery gunner at Funafuti. His medals included the Battle Gold Star of Tarawa, Good Conduct Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal. He was honorably discharged in January 1946.
He married Rachel Ethelyn Lovell in South Royaltown, Vt., in 1945.
Using his G.I. Bill., Lee studied to be an electrician. He also studied with Frigidaire Commercial Refrigeration in Terrytown, N.Y. Lee worked for Covell's Painting, Goodyear Rubber Factory, Fellows Electric, and was the owner of Lee Fountain's Electrical and Refrigeration Service in White River Junction, Vt. He was the chief engineer of maintenance at Chandler Hospital in Chandler, Ariz. Lee also worked as an electrical engineer at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz., and was an electrical supervisor of Hunsinger Construction in Tempe, Ariz.
Lee was a worshipful master of the United Brethren Lodge No. 21 A.F. and A.M. in White River Junction. He served on numerous church-related committees and functions at the United Methodist Church of White River Junction and at the Kalispell First Church of the Nazarene. Lee also volunteered to help troubled youths.
Lee enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching Western movies, reading war chronicles, and woodworking.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Anna Fountain; brothers, Elwin, Colin, and an infant brother.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rachel Ethelyn Lovell Fountain, of Kalispell; children, Betty Lee and husband, Henry Cichowski, of Kila, Richard Clair and wife, Sue Fountain, of Lakeside, Ariz., and Dale Ann King of Placerville, Calif.; sister, Lillian Fellows-Abbott of White River Junction, Vt.; seven grandchildren, Brandon and Tina Cichowski, Peter and Chad Fountain, Jennifer King Falca, Jeremy and Jason King; 10 great-grandchildren, Cory, Caitlynne, Nicole, Leland, Megan, Mitchell, Tanner, Asch, Allyson, Paige; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Kalispell First Church of the Nazarene, 1295 Whitefish Stage Road, in Kalispell.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association or the First Church of the Nazarene in Kalispell.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.