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LeRoy (Lee) Lavern Bluhm passed away quietly on Sept. 23, 2024, at his home at the age of 94, just three days after celebrating his 72nd wedding anniversary. Lee was born in Milford, Nebraska, on Feb.
18, 1930, to Ervin Bluhm and Lillian Neitzel. When he was 5, he left Nebraska for Washington with his dad. He lived here with his aunt, Louise Thompson, and her family until his mom and brothers could make the trip West.
Lee attended school in Napavine until he finished the eighth grade. After that, he left the family home and went to live in Port Angeles with his cousins and to get a job. In 1947, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served four years.
After he left the Navy, he returned to the Napavine area where he met his soon-to-be wife, Bertha Muller. They met on a blind date and were married three months later, on Sept. 20, 1952.
They raised four children, Brien, Lyle, Allen (deceased) and Shirley, in the Chehalis area. Lee worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 36 years as an engineer. After retiring in 1990, he spent his time on the farm in Winlock raising beef cows until they sold it in 2006 and moved to Littlerock to be closer to family.
As he got older, Lee enjoyed having family near, going to his USS Boxer reunions, meeting monthly for lunch with his extended family, and breakfast with fellow retired railroad workers. Lee was not adventurous but was content being home surrounded by his surviving three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He enjoyed growing his carrots and garlic and always had enough for anyone who stopped by.
There will be a graveside service at Claquato Cemetery on Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.
, reception to follow. We love you dad..
