Lee P. Gaalaas, of Grand Rapids, died Saturday Nov. 7, 2009 at Evergreen Terrace in Grand Rapids. Lee P. Gaalaas, of Grand Rapids, died Saturday Nov. 7 at Evergreen Terrace. He was born March 20, 1919 in Stillwater, Minnesota, the son of Percy and Grace Lee Gaalaas. They moved with their family to Grand Rapids in 1932. Lee graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1937 and from I.C.C. in 1940. He attended the University of Chicago and attended Army Officer Training School. He returned to Grand Rapids in 1942 and married his high school sweetheart, Priscilla Rossman. They lived in Portland, Oregon and Santa Rosa, California before he served in the Philippines. Following WWII Lee returned to the University of Chicago, graduating in 1947. He was employed in sales and accounting at the Herald Review (Northprint) until retiring in 1984. For more than 50 years he worked with the Boy Scouts and was awarded the Silver Beaver for his efforts. He was a member of Cap Baker Lions Club for over 50 years and participated in several Masonic Lodge activities for many years. He was a charter member of Nordstjernen Sons of Norway Lodge and served as a zone manager for four years. After his retirement he was an instructor in the 55 Alive driving program and the advanced hunter education program. He always found time for hunting and fishing with family and friends and enjoyed boating. He was an avid booster for the high school ski program. He was an active member of Community Presbyterian Church and had served as Sunday School teacher, elder, and deacon. He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Betty, June, Perry, Grace, and Carol. Surviving family includes his wife of 67 years, Priscilla; four children, Jean (Richard) Morse of Stillwater, Larry (Susan) of Minneapolis, Donald (LouAnne) of Red Wing, MN, and Peder (Maren) of Grand Rapids; 13 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Barbara (Neil) Doyle of Fairfield, Iowa, and Peggy (Bruce) Johnson of Manchester Connecticut; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 12:00 until the 1:00 p.m. Memorial Service on Saturday November 14, 2009 in the Libbey Funeral Home. Burial with military honors: Itasca-Calvary Cemetery.