Lee's 75th!

Although our paths crossed only recently, I can truly say that I have found a great appreciation for you, your wit, humor, and especially your fine dogs! it is a pleasure and honor celebrating You. Bruce

Lee, congratulations on 75 amazing years!

I knew from the moment you and Susan first walked into my office that we’d be good friends. Your quick wit and genuine concern for others make you very likable.

I admire the way you openly care for your entire family, especially your bride.

I look forward to many more visits…keep the Mike’s cold!

Jay Puppo

Wow … hard to believe this is your 75th birthday, and almost 45 years since I married you (and Scott). God was sure watching over me when He choose you. I don’t think anyone could have made me feel more loved and cherished over the years. What wonderful memories we have … starting with the three of us, and then expanding our family to our perfect number of five. Not one of us in this family ever had to question if we could count on you for that incredible unconditional love. Thank you for always loving me even when I might have not been too lovable, caring for me as I became more limited, and always acting like you were the lucky one and it was your pleasure.

I love you very much,

Susan

My most memorable moment with Lee was the delivery of my fourth child, Amara.  Lee and Susan had come to the hospital to see me and hopefully be there when it “was time.”  Well, for all of my other deliveries the women and David had stayed and the other guys had waited in the lobby.   It “was time” and Susan stayed to help with Abbie.  I needed a photographer and asked Lee if he would be willing to stay in the room and take pictures.  After he stopped crying, he did a great job!  I had to ask him to stop blubbering a few times and snap some photos!!!  Later we all laughed at the fact that I asked the guy with the tremor to be my photographer!!!!  It was such an honor to have Lee there for the birth.  He has been a special “adopted dad” for me over the years.  He has changed flat tires, babysat little ones, helped with all kinds of home projects and most memorably, been there to welcome Amara into the world.

Thanks for such sweet memories, Lee.  You are such a special friend.  Happy 75th friend!  Love, Joanie

p.s.  When you don’t know who someone is…..just remember that it must be Merrill Hall’s relative!!!!!!!

75 Years? Hmm…given I am probably your oldest nephew (Prentice anyway), this one has me thinking a lot. Lee, we live 2300 miles apart, but one thing that I always remember is the joy I and the rest of your brother’s family had when we knew you were visiting out our direction.

I can remember one visit in the mid 90’s where you pulled one over on my brother and I while in a restaurant in East Lansing, MI. We were all there moving your parents – my grandparents. Somehow you concocted (with your brother – Dad, going along) a scheme where you had every waitress in the place stop and ask us if there was anything else we needed (this is a college town I might point out). I believe something like fifteen different waitresses were pouring over us throughout the night, as an obvious attempt to embarrass me and my brother Kevin. What made it even more interesting were the fuming customers around us that were not getting served at all! You and Dad (Clarence) were loving every minute of it!

Another episode occurred when your family and ours were visiting your folks in Okemos, MI sometime in the 1980’s I believe. We were sitting down to a somewhat fancy dinner in the dining room…a dinner your mother had spent plenty of time putting together along with her best china. Everyone was minding their manners when someone asked you to pass the potatoes. You literally threw a baked potato to everyone on the table! I was speechless…and really worried how your mother was going to react! To my surprise, she took it in stride. It must have been something she had seen before?

One event we will never forget is the many days you, along with Susan, spent with our family back in 2006 when we really needed the support. Your help, guidance, and being there when it counted really made the difference in our time of sorrow. My mother and my family thank you!

I certainly would have loved to attend your 75th as would the rest of our family. We’ll just have to make it up to you. Happy birthday!

Kirk Prentice

Have a wonderful  75th birthday ole’ man.  Sorry I ‘m unable to be with you on this momentous day but  am glad you made it without any help from your little sister.

You might not remember this but sometime in the 50’s when you were raising chickens as a 4H project, you had a favorite rooster  that followed you around all the time.  Your rooster didn’t like me at all since you always made it chase me.  You thought it was funny.  I had a rooster friend also that would protect me from your rooster.  Well, on this particular day I had come home from school and (after changing my clothes) was walking out to the barn to see my horse.  All of a sudden here comes you rooster , charging me.  I started running to get away from it hoping my rooster would show up to help but my lil’ buddy never showed.   Your “friend”  with claws grabbed my right leg and started pecking.  I started screaming, and mom came running out with a broom to chase the bird away.  Well anyway, come that Sunday, that was the first chicken I really enjoyed plucking, gutting, and eating.  As Dad said at that time ; “let this be a lesson to you son, don’t pick on your sister”. I still have a scar on my leg .  I found why my protector wasn’t there. Lee, you sold him. *sob*

I was asked to tell of a time that I remembered of our childhood together.  But everything is great because I LOVE YOU no matter what.  You’re my BIG BROTHER.  GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.                                                                                       Your lil’ sis,     IrisJeane

Early one morning at work at Dr. Bott’s “house”, I can’t remember maybe April or October 2002, I walked into the Prentice kitchen for a cup of coffee. The coffee pot was usually on and I was thankful for it that morning, the drive to work was cold and rainy.

Lee was sitting at the kitchen nook pouring over what looked like a large text book. I thought wow he is up early studying. Probably some kind of programming book, I thought. Someone said he had worked as a programmer in his former positions.

We exchanged brief greetings and I commented on what a large book he was reading. “Is it a book for computer programming?”, I asked.

He said, “no it is the Bible”.

That created a lasting impression for me.

Thanks Lee for your Christian example that day and at other times since then.

Dr. Bott employee
Deborah

Lee, you have been a wonderful example of a good dad (grand & great, t00) and husband.  I love your dry humor, quiet but opinionated ways and your big heart.  Though you are bright and live with engineer brain, you have the ability to tap your emotions and be sensitive …and cry.  You have loved me and my family like we are your own.  I have watched you grow in your love with Christ and your understanding of Him and His ways.  These all speak to me and why I love and respect you.  But, your greatest contribution to all of us is your example of being a servant.  You teach me how to love my wife by the way you serve yours.  You love and care for Susan.   You meet her where she needs you and you do it with a great attitude (most of the time!  And, certainly a lot better job than I have done.)  So, know I love you and respect you as a friend.  You’ve made great progress… though it took you forever – 75 years!!!  May our Savior give you many more years of good health and more time to rub off on us.  Happy Birthday with Love, David C

Remember when we were all young and the future of the free world depended on your ability to do missile trajectory and guidance simulation?  Remember when you were already an old hand at the computer business and you weren’t yet 30?  I do, and I remember that you were among the very best at your trade and already one of the best at being a sensitive but demanding group leader and friend to the younger people in your charge.  I’ll bet you still are!

Over the years you helped me at the office when I needed help and you and Susan helped me as a friend when I needed help and I think of the two of you often and miss you and wish we still lived in the same neighborhood.  For that matter, I wish we still worked in the same office!  I can’t be with you on your birthday this year, but I’ll be thinking of you and I’ll know that you will be having a great celebration with a wonderful group of friends (including relatives!) who are fortunate enough to be able to attend.

Warmest good cheer on your 75th birthday!

Norm Peterson

Wow dad .. 75 years, eh? That must mean I’m getting up there too .. yikes! That’s OK, you’ve always been there to show me the way .. if you can do it, I can too. I recently ran across this photo of us in Indian Guides, all painted up and ready for battle (I guess). Looking at this picture, says to me that you were willing to go above and beyond the usual call of duty, putting yourself at risk as well as some possible humiliation .. but that didn’t phase you one little bit.  Little Feather and Big Feather sure made a good team (didn’t mom have another suggested name for us?)! I remember lots of fun times we had doing Indian things together.

Thanks for being there dad!

love .. scott