Frederick Billings Lee, Jr.

Elko, Nev. — Frederick B. Lee, Jr. died on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. He was born in New York City on May 9, 1941, and raised in Washington, D.C. He attended St. Alban’s School in Washington, D.C. and graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. He graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. Shortly after, he served in the U.S. Army. Upon completion of his service he attended the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Calif. where he earned his J.D.

Rick spent the summers of his youth in Woodstock, Vt., and visited there as often as he could as an adult. He was drawn to the West through his Billings family history and his life-long friendship with the Gavin Farr family. He settled in Elko and loved it—and it loved him.

Rick worked for Nevada Indian Legal Services for many years, and then spent 24 years serving as Elko County Public Defender before retiring in 2015.

A life-long Episcopalian, Rick was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served at various times as a vestry member, senior warden, and usher. He also held licenses as a lector, worship leader, Eucharistic visitor, and preacher.

The word most often used to describe Rick was “kind”; he had an open heart and his life touched and improved the lives of countless individuals. He had a probing intellect, a prodigious memory, and a dry sense of humor. He was a loyal companion and a loving son, brother, uncle, father, and husband.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Albrethsen; daughter, Laura Emma Lee; son, Frederick Billings Lee III; the stepchildren he loved as his own, Greg Blackwell, Jennique Lee, and Cheryl Wright; and his sisters, Jane Wolfe and Laura Kent; as well as a niece and several nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Billings Farm and Museum at billingsfarm.org/give or mailed to: Billings Farm & Museum, P.O. Box 489, Woodstock, VT 05091-0489.

Burial will be in Woodstock at a later date.