Sylpha Lee

Sylpha Marie Ann (Bjerkager) Lee, 96, passed away July 19, 2024, at Four Seasons Healthcare in Forman, ND. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Colfax, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Colfax. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

 Sylpha was born Sept. 19, 1927, to Henry and Clara (Hagen) Bjerkager in the family home by Colfax, ND. She attended a country school, high school in Galchutt where she played basketball and graduating in Wahpeton. She also attended NDSSS. December 4, 1948, she married Kenneth Lee and they lived in Wahpeton and Fargo before moving to her family homestead. They raised 3 children, VaLois, Karen and Kevin.

 During the 60’s she fostered newborns through Lutheran Social Services, caring for 15 babies during a span of 5 years. For 26 years she cooked for the Galchutt and Abercrombie senior citizens, retiring at 82. Sylpha was a Blue Bird and 4H leader, was active in homemakers, and held several positions in her church. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed crafting and social activities. In her later years, she spent many hours coloring.

 In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, daughter VaLois McConnell, and brother Phillip Bjerkager.

 Sylpha is survived by her daughter Karen (Jim) Gallagher, son Kevin Lee, son-in-law, John McConnell; grandchildren, Kelly (Dave) Bowers, Kyle McConnell, Michael Gallagher, Kristen (Eric) McConnell, Tommy (Autumn Storms) Lee, and Nicole Wolbeck; 14 great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-granddaughters, 3 great-great-granddaughters; and numerous family members and friends.

 The family would like to thank the staff at Four Seasons Healthcare for their kind and compassionate care.