She was born in Spokane, Washington and attended Lewis & Clark High School and graduated from the University of Washington in 1948, where she met her late husband, Richard Lee who had served in WWII as a fighter pilot in the Aleutian Islands. They lived in Lake City, WA and attended Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church where Erma was a Deacon and a member of the choir for over 40 years.
Erma was a Certified Church Staff Worker in the North Pacific District of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), and then commissioned as an Associate in Ministry at the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988. She also helped establish the Northwest Washington Synod’s first Candidacy Committee and chaired it for many years. As a mother, Erma helped guide her children’s education as president of the PTA along with her husband. She was also known to be an excellent cook, renowned as a baker and an expert seamstress.
Erma is survived by her children, Eric Lee (Susan), Karen Parnall (Jeffery) and Stephen Lee; grandchildren Ricky, Danny and Alan; nephews Robert and James.
Memorial services will be held at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church on Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 pm. Memorials are welcome and may be given to the ministry of the choir at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church. These may be sent to Phinney, ℅ Parish Administrator at 7500 Greenwood Ave N., Seattle WA 98103.
