Benedict Lee, 82, of Marty

Funeral Mass will be 11 AM, Friday, May 2, 2014 at St Paul's Catholic Church in Marty. Burial is in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 PM Wednesday at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner. Wake Services will be 7:30 PM, Thursday at the church in Marty.

Benedict Joseph Lee was born December 24, 1931 to Rosa Lee and Ellis Zephier. He was baptized on January 3, 1932 in St Paul's Catholic Church in Marty, where he was a lifetime member. He died Monday, April 28, 2014 at the Lake Andes Healthcare Center in Lake Andes. "Benny" as he was best known, had reached the age of 82 years.

Benny was a deaf mute all his life. He attended the Schools for the Deaf in Sioux Falls and Milwaukee, WI. He loved to play basketball and enjoyed fishing and swimming. Benny had an outgoing personality and did not let the fact that he couldn't hear or talk keep him from knowing what was going on. He was an avid Marty sports fan and loved to attend all the football and basketball home games.

Benny was employed most of his life with various jobs at St. Paul's Indian Mission and Marty Indian School. Even after his retirement, he kept busy.

Though he could not join the armed forces, he had a special love for all veterans. He would put flags on their grave sites and had an honor cake for them each Memorial Day.

Who could forget his love for animals, especially dogs? Many stories were told involving his dogs. In later years Benny could be seen in his wheel chair driving down the street with a string of dogs following him.

Benny loved his Church, his co-workers at the Shop and School, his friends and his life at Marty. Though he had spent almost two years at the Medical Health Center in Lake Andes, he always asked about everyone including his dogs. He will be missed...

Benny is survived by one brother, Zane Zephier, many nieces, nephews and cousins.