Lee Philip Norgaard

Lee was born on September 5th to Philip and Pearl Norgaard in a small town just outside Omaha, Nebraska. Lee was welcomed by an older sister, Lynn, and Grandma Anna and Grandpa Bill who lived next door.

Growing up in rural Irvington provided abundant opportunities for an active boy. Lee went full throttle from the creek to the grove to the surrounding farmland often managing to injure himself in the process.

He attended the local Lutheran church which his family was founding members and had perfect attendance for Sunday school (since his mom was the Sunday School Superintendent).

In high school he often helped the nearby farmers as well as found time to ride his motorcycle, be a life guard, sing in Glee Club, participate in track and gymnastics, and get certified as a scuba diver, but his passion was music. His first band was The Intrigues who played at a high school prom, pool party, basement parties, and frequently at a bowling alley.

Lee attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska and graduated with sociology and psychology degrees in 1972. His gymnastic and athletic background propelled him into cheerleading participation during his college years. He continued his scuba diving and music around his classes. After graduation he was promptly drafted by the Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado where he stayed when he was honorably discharged from the Army.

He picked up the banjo and continued music first as a single performer then in a popular band, Fall River Road. Music and touring filled many wonderful years where he picked up the fiddle, mandolin, and the pedal steel guitar. Lee loved playing music but he also loved meeting the people who came out to listen to their music. The band had a huge following and Lee would remember the names of all of the people who frequently came out to see the band.

As the bands seemed to disband more frequently, Lee used his GI bill and went back to college at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and earned his MBA. It was at this time that he met his future wife, Kathy, who was starting her bachelor’s degree. They dated through college and beyond for eight and a half years. To reflect their love, their marriage ceremony, “Once in a Blue Moon,” was celebrated on May 28, 1988. Together they traveled, frequently to go scuba diving. They had dogs instead of children. They had a fabulous marriage and life together for 37 years.

While Kathy taught elementary school Lee worked construction. Lee worked for a big construction company building or remodeling buildings around town and then started remodeling homes on his own. While remodeling these homes, he became good friends with the families and maintained these relationships throughout his life. In the evenings, he taught business and marketing classes at the University of Colorado at Colorado Spring for eleven years. He continued music and would have an occasional concert with other musicians.

Needing safer employment, Lee took a job with the Department of Corrections as a Project Manager. He traveled all over the state to the various prisons for construction, remodeling, and modifications. He would drive long hours in order to try to get home to Kathy most nights. Lee worked for DOC for over 20 years before he retired.

Once retired, he talked Kathy into retiring too so they could spend more time together. He loved working on house projects and especially working on cars where he was getting close to completing a kit car he started years ago. They continued to enjoy their dogs, music, family, entertaining, and travel.

They enjoyed time together and retirement for seven years before Lee’s health issues started in April 2025 when Lee was diagnosed with aplastic anemia/PNH which is a serious bone marrow disorder sometimes linked to leukemia. Lee would get infusions 2-3 times a week at the hospital. Even though he was miserable, he didn’t complain. With Lee’s susceptibility to germs, he wasn’t able to visit with the people he loved. Lee had a series of stokes starting in July. He always managed to rebound enough to come home. His fourth stoke at the end of February left him unresponsive; however, he was able come home through home hospice one last time. He died peacefully in his sleep on March 7, 2026.

Lee is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; his sister, Lynn; Kathy’s sister, Kandy (Harry), brother, Kim (Sunny), and sister-in-law, Rae Jean. He is also survived by six nieces: Amy, Jill (Nathan), Lisa (Matt), Amanda (Martin), Melinda, and Kelsey (Paul), and ten great nieces and nephews: Kylan, Hadley, Ivan, Leland, Josephine, Juniper, Karlynn, Jerry, Kennedy, and James.

In lieu of flowers or donations, since Lee was so generous that he would give you the shirt off his back and would do whatever for anybody, please consider helping someone else or donating to your favorite charity.