Dr. Lawrence Lee

Dr. Lawrence Benson Lee, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home in Orem, Utah on June 7th, 2014. He was born in Provo, Utah on December 8, 1931, the oldest child of Lawrence Lee and Donna Benson. Three sisters joined the family: Karen Louise, Patricia Faye and Zetta Maurie.

Lawrence graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors of Science degree in Military Science and Tactics while an officer in the ROTC program. After graduating, he served 4 years active duty in the Army. While serving at Ft. Bliss, TX, Lawrence met Marilyn Joyce Turley of Colonial Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico and they were married in the Mesa, Arizona LDS temple on August 18, 1956. They were blessed with 7 sons.

In 1956 Lawrence attended Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating, he served a dental internship at Letterman hospital on the Presidio in San Francisco, and then was stationed for 3 years at Kimbro Kasern, Murnau, Germany and 1 year in Fort Ord, California. In 1965 Lawrence ended active duty in the Army and soon after entered the Air Force Reserves. While in the reserves, he practiced general dentistry and had a referral endodontics practice and was a member of the Southern California Academy of Endodontics. When he officially retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force Reserve on January 8, 1989, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was deeply patriotic and loyal to his country. Over the years the family lived in several cities including Murnau, Germany, Seaside, CA; Las Cruces, NM; Chicago, IL; Redlands, CA and Orem, UT.

A strong supporter of Scouting, Lawrence was awarded the Silver Beaver for 25 years of volunteer service to the Boy Scouts of America. He served as a merit badge counselor and Commissioner of the Grayback District in the San Bernardino area. He loved the outdoors, hiking, camping and helping the young scouts with their merit badges. Tennis was his favorite sport.

Lawrence had a strong testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and served faithfully where called in the LDS church. Sharing his love of music, he occasionally sang duets with his wife for weddings and other formal functions. In their later years, he served a full-time LDS mission with his wife in San Francisco, CA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters (Karen and Zetta), and one son (Lawrence Mark). He is survived by his wife Marilyn and 6 sons: Douglas, Erik (Valerie), Nathan (Deanna), Nelson (Lauren), Serge (Michelle) and Ted (Marissa). He is also survived by his sister Patricia Russell. He has 22 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Funeral services include a viewing on Friday, June 13 from 6-8 pm at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary (495 South State Street, Orem, Utah), a viewing on Saturday, June 14 from 9-9:45 am at the Lakeview 8th Ward LDS chapel (155 West 1600 South, Orem, Utah) and a funeral program directly following from 10 - 11 am.