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Funeral services for Leland Nile (Lee) Wahlstrom, age 95, of Chadron, NE will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 7, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Chadron with Pastor Bonnie McCord officiating.

Inurnment will be at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 7, 2016 at the Nebraska Veteran’s Cemetery in Alliance, NE.

A memorial has been established Chadron State College Foundation. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com.

A memorial has been established for the Chadron State College Foundation. Donations can be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE69337.

Lee passed away at Seven Sisters Living Center in Hot Springs, SD on October 15, 2016.

He was born on May 8, 1921 on a farm in Burt County near Craig, NE to Carl and Edna (Erickson) Wahlstrom. He attended the Nolana Country School through 8^th grade, graduating from Oakland (NE) High School in 1939. He then attended the University of Nebraska until he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps in October 1942 and was commissioned as a Navy pilot in May 1943. As a Lieutenant, he served in the Caribbean theater flying a dive bomber on submarine patrol until honorably discharged in December 1945. He returned to UNL where he was an active member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and graduated with honors in economics in 1947.

Lee married his college sweetheart, Virginia Van Patten of Sutton, NE, in Key West, FL in May 1944. They shared 71 years of marriage before Virginia’s death in May 2015.

Lee worked as an Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. sales representative, traveling western Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado for 14 years before purchasing Wahlstrom Ford in Chadron in 1961. In his “retirement years” (Lee never truly retired!) he had a 2^nd career as owner of an Angus cow/calf operation. He thought there was nothing better than a CAB steak.

Lee served on many boards for community organizations and Ford Motor Company, including Chadron Community Hospital, 17 years; Ford Advertising Board, 25 years; Nebraska Dept. of Labor Private Industry Council, 10 years; Chadron State College Foundation, 41 years (including many as president); and various boards of the Chadron United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Elks, VFW, American Legion, Rotary Club, Masons, and was an AK-Sar-Ben Ambassador Emeritus.

Lee and Virginia traveled extensively in the US and around the world, including Peru, Thailand, Colombia, Afghanistan and much of Europe. Lee also had a passion for playing bridge and golf and for his garden – especially his raspberry patch! He was a huge high school and college sports enthusiast and spent hours supporting his son and four grandchildren in their many sports competitions. In 2012, he was honored to participate in the Dawes County Honor Flight to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. To honor him for his service, his four grandchildren surprised him by meeting him there to share the experience.

Lee is survived by son Robert (Jane) of Chadron, NE; daughter Cathy (Richard) of Rapid City, SD; brother Rick (LaRayne) of Brookings, SD; sister Barb Davis of Green Valley, AZ; 4 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for Leland (Lee) Nile Wahlstrom.