After more than 63 years together, former northwest Minnesota schoolteachers die on same day

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Of their 63 years of marriage, Shirley and Lloyd Lee have been at all times collectively, says their daughter Sondi Johnson.

The longtime Crookston residents taught collectively at Crookston Excessive Faculty for 34 years, and lived in Crookston till a few yr in the past, once they moved to Plymouth, Minnesota, to be nearer to Sondi and her husband Jeff Johnson.

“They have been simply so shut,” mentioned Sondi.” “It was at all times Lloyd and Shirley.”

On Tuesday, Could 24, Lloyd, 87, and Shirley, 88, died simply hours aside from one another. Whereas she knew Shirley and Lloyd wouldn’t wish to be aside for lengthy, Sondi mentioned she by no means imagined they’d die on the identical day.

“Whereas that may be laborious, we additionally discovered some magnificence realizing that they have been collectively, and are collectively, and have been capable of stroll hand in hand into heaven collectively,” mentioned Sondi. “It’s fairly uncommon that two folks go away on the identical day, but when it was going to occur to any couple, it will be them.”

Lloyd and Shirley met whereas attending school at Bemidji State College. They have been married in 1958, and taught collectively in Stephen, Minnesota, for 2 years earlier than accepting positions to show in Crookston. They taught at Crookston Excessive Faculty till they retired in 1994.

Shirley taught science, American historical past and biology, and served because the interim highschool principal in 1984. Lloyd taught band and orchestra, and led the marching band. Of their 34 years on the faculty, the pair made an impression on their college students.

Jacey Johnston, a 1987 graduate of Crookston Excessive Faculty, who grew up as a neighbor to the Lees, had each Shirley and Lloyd as academics in highschool.

Johnston took biology with Shirley, and mentioned she had an infectious snigger and an amazing humorousness, whereas additionally being a no-nonsense instructor. Johnston remembers one time when her sister was combating a science class, Shirley took time to tutor her, regardless that she was not certainly one of her college students.

“She would make herself out there to college students, it doesn’t matter what,” mentioned Johnston. “In the event that they wanted assist and he or she was capable of lend it, she would.”

Johnston performed in Lloyd’s marching band for a number of years, and remembers him as a soft-spoken and sort instructor, who held his band to excessive requirements.

“That’s the rationale why our marching band was so profitable again then, as a result of he was such a perfectionist in making us seem like a school band on the time,” mentioned Johnston. “We received kicked out of the Potato Bowl, to my understanding, as a result of nobody else wished to march as a result of we at all times received yearly.”

Kirsten Johannson, a 1983 graduate of Crookston Excessive Faculty, appears to be like again fondly on her time taking part in in live performance band, pep band and marching band, and says in all her years of schooling. Lloyd was her favourite teacher.

“He was only a man that strived for excellence in every part he did and his work ethic was critically unmatched by any,” mentioned Johannson.

Underneath Lloyd, the highschool marching band competed in Potato Bowl parades in Grand Forks, and carried out at halftime reveals at Winnipeg Blue Bombers soccer video games, a Kentucky Derby Parade, Disney World and in an Outdated Dutch Potato Chip tv business.

“I can’t even think about the period of time — after faculty hours, weekends — he put in planning and orchestrating for marching band competitions, not to mention the intricacy and element of each halftime efficiency,” mentioned Johannson.

However even when main a big band of highschool college students, Lloyd was a quiet chief, mentioned Johannson.

“He had such a quiet, humble, I’d say, unassuming demeanor,” she mentioned. “Not an individual that demanded respect, however it was simply given.”

Lloyd at all times instructed the marching band with a megaphone due to how smooth spoken he was, mentioned Johnston.

“We may at all times inform when he was getting mad as a result of he turned extra crimson then he would ever elevate his voice,” she mentioned, laughing.

Whereas Shirley had her personal educating profession and was a working mom, she was at all times supportive and current of Lloyd’s band, mentioned Sondi, and sometimes chaperoned occasions or helped with the band’s laundry.

“She was at all times a real associate,” mentioned Sondi.

Many college students shared recollections of Lloyd and Shirley at their memorial service and funeral on Sunday, June 5 and Monday, June 6, mentioned Jeff. Some remembered Shirley for her snigger.

“She had a giant, boisterous snigger and he or she beloved to make use of it,” mentioned Jeff.

Others instructed him Lloyd’s help received them by means of band or stored them in class.

“You don’t notice the impression that academics have on their college students and it’s form of overwhelming to listen to from all of them and what impression they’d on tons of, if not hundreds, of children over time,” Sondi mentioned.