Jan. 15, 1925 - July 7, 2014

 

ROLLA, M0. -- Lee Carlton Dutcher, 89, passed away Monday (July 7, 2014), in Rolla, Missouri. He was born Jan. 15, 1925 on the homestead of his parents, A.W. and Minnie (Tucker) Dutcher in Red Willow County, southwest of McCook.

Lee attended rural school at District #71 through eighth grade and graduated from McCook High School in 1943. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corp on Dec. 8, 1943, and served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II as a Radar Mechanic Bombardment 867. He was honorably discharged on March 30, 1946, earning the American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal.

In 1946 he married Lorraine Cudnohowski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wyoming and started is life-long work with the USA National Geological Survey where he traveled to several countries teaching irrigation techniques and the drilling of water wells.

 

Lee and his family lived several years in Tunisia, North Africa, Colorado and California where Lee was involved with geo-thermo study before moving to Missouri in 1987. In his free time Lee loved to read, write poetry, and argue politics.

 

Preceding him in death were his wife, Lorraine; his parents, A.W. and Minnie Dutcher; young daughter, Cynthia; sons, Rodney and Donald; two sisters, Flora and Thelma Dutcher of McCook and four sisters and brothers-in-law, Elsie (Ted) Fetters, Millie (Alvin) Newport, Edna (Frank) Grieninger and Hazel (Howard) Malleck; brother, Calvin Dutcher; and three half-brothers, Albert, Ephriam, and James Dutcher and their spouses.

Survivors include his daughters, Leonarra (Brian) Durkan of Worchester, Mass., and Glenna (Chris) Croskrey of Silver Springs, Calif.; sons, Darrin Dutcher of Colorado and Rob Dutcher of North Carolina; sister, Ruth Sughroue of Indianola; special friend, Mae Leimkiller of Rolla, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given in his name.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 13, 2014, 4-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook. Friends may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend condolences to the family.

Graveside services will be at Riverview Cemetery in McCook, Monday, July 14, 2014, 10 a.m. with military honors. Jerry Beckenhauer will be officiating.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.