Arlene (Hamilton) Lee

Arlene Helen Hamilton Lee, was born to Maurice and Elsie (Galloway) Hamilton in the small town of Tonasket in Washington State on June 19, 1932 and passed away in St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho on September 17, 2023 at the age of 91. Her husband Burton passed away here in Boise in 2011. Also, preceding Arlene in death were her parents, older brothers Darrell, Marvin, John, and James, older sister Maisie, twin brother Arthur, and younger brother Daniel.

Arlene is survived by her second-youngest brother Judd Hamilton of Seattle; her sons Jeff Lee of Boise and John Lee and his wife Terri of Mount Vernon, Washington; daughter Maisie Thomas and her husband Lynn of Meridian, Idaho; granddaughters Kristen Hlavinka of Boise and Mandy Wilson and her husband Colby of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandsons Adam Lee and his wife Leslie of Mount Vernon, Jordan Lee and his wife Sidney, also of Mount Vernon, and Colton Hlavinka and his wife Kayla of Sacramento, California; great-grandchildren Blake, Sidney, Rowan, Josie, and Lainey; nephew Chip Hamilton and his sister Tami Hamalian of Seattle, both of whom have always been a special part of the Burton and Arlene’s immediate family; many other nephews, nieces, in-laws and extended family, as well as a host of dear friends of every conceivable demographic and connection, both near and far.

Arlene and Burton were married in north Idaho on April 1, 1951 and resided in the Okanogan Valley of North Central Washington for the first 28 of their 60 years of marriage. Eventually, employment opportunities took them to Wenatchee, and then Spokane. Arlene held various leadership positions in the healthcare and social services fields during those years. It was family and Burt’s work that later took Arlene and him to the Puget Sound region of Washington. It was also love of family that eventually brought them here to Boise to retire.

During the years Arlene and Burton were physically able, they very much enjoyed hosting family, friends and ministers. For decades, church members met in their home for bible studies and fellowship on Wednesdays and Sundays. The Lees had a great love for God, His Word and His influence in their lives, as well as for each other, for family, and for their many friends throughout various communities.