Lee Berger

Lee Evan Berger passed away peacefully on February 20, 2018, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was surrounded by family as he went to be with the Lord.

Lee was born December 31, 1940, to Lee (Bud) and Frances Berger, in Helena, MT.  He grew up in Helena and graduated from Helena High School in 1959.  He went on to attend Montana State University, graduating with a degree in Accounting.  There he was a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

It was during high school that Lee met the love of his life, Sharon VanNoy.  Sharon proudly tells the story of the day they met.  She was in need of a pair of white buck shoes for a high school pep assembly.  She happened to see Lee walking down the stairs in a pair, which she immediately asked to borrow.  Of course he obliged and this was the beginning of a long, wonderful relationship.  These high school sweethearts were married in 1966, in Butte, MT.

Lee enjoyed a very successful career in banking.  He began his banking career at the Union Bank and Trust Company, later Norwest Bank, in Helena in 1965, working in the real estate and commercial departments.  He worked in Helena until 1983, when he accepted a position with Norwest Bank in Casper, WY, where he was the Executive Vice President.  However, Montana roots were hard to let go, and so in 1985, Lee moved the family back to Montana, settling in Great Falls and taking a position with First Interstate Bank system, managing credit for the Montana region.  For this position he traveled throughout north central Montana, eventually relocating to Kalispell as President of First Interstate Bank, where he proudly served until his retirement in 1997.  Throughout his banking career, Lee made many great, lifetime friendships and supported multiple community causes, notably years as a board member for United Way and for Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the pride of his community causes.  His employees and customers were always most important to him and he was always level headed and worked with a smile.  Ask him any day how he was, and his response was always “Outstanding!”  Following his retirement from banking Lee fulfilled a life-long dream of owning his own business.  Flathead Property Management was a business he thoroughly enjoyed owning.  He loved being a small business owner.

Family was always the first priority for Lee.  He and Sharon have three wonderful children and six grandchildren, all within a long days drive from Kalispell.  Derek and Simone Berger live in Issaquah, WA, and have two children – Blake and Brienne.  Brandon (Buddy) and Janell Berger live in Billings with their two children – Spencer and Kamryn.  Dacia and Craig Prather live in Whitefish, just a stone’s throw away, with their two children – Hagen and Axel.  Papa Lee, as he became known, was always eager to do anything for his kids and grandkids.  Papa, just like the grandkids who became his pride and joy, was never one to sit down and take a break; he was constantly in tow with one or several of them.

Lee, an avid runner, seldom missed an opportunity to take a jog.  Living in Helena, his schedule always had time for a run, often escaping for long runs in the south hills.  All his years of running were capitalized when he completed the New York City marathon in 2000.  Sharon and Buddy were there to cheer him on!

Another hobby that he thoroughly enjoyed was wood working.  Lee would spend countless hours in his “shop”, building or fixing things.  No project was too large, too small, or too complicated for him to take on.  Projects included an oversized doll house for Dacia (ended up too big to fit through the door), a meticulously-finished dining room table, a baby cradle used by all grandkids, a sea kayak, a cozy garden house, and many more wonderful projects, all completed with fine detail, craftsmanship and love.  In his family’s eyes, he was a master of all trades.  At the drop of a hat, Lee would be on the road with tools in hand to assist with any home improvement or repair for family and friends alike.  He just requested there be a glass of wine ready for him at the end of the day!

Lee and Sharon enjoyed many special trips together.  The family spent many ski seasons together in Big Sky.  Their love of travel was apparent.  Among several trips to Europe, a particularly special memory was joining Dacia and Craig in Europe for a portion of their wedding anniversary.  Another common trip was to Arizona for sunshine, baseball, and precious time with the grandkids.  Time spent at home was special to Lee and Sharon, spending countless hours working side by side in the yard and mom’s flower garden.

Lee was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather and friend.  He courageously battled cancer, never giving up and never stopped thinking of the well-being of others.  He touched many people through his years on this earth.  No one more so than Sharon (Meema) and his family.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents Bud and Frances, Sharon’s parents Art and Violet VanNoy, sister-in-law Ardie Slaughter and brother-in-law Howard VanNoy.  He is survived by his loving wife Sharon, sons Derek (and Simone) Berger, Buddy (and Janell) Berger, daughter Dacia (and Craig) Prather, and six wonderful grandkids, Blake, Brienne, Spencer, Kamryn, Hagen, Axel. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 5, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.Reception will follow at Buffalo Hill Golf Course.