James Lehr

James Henry Lehr, age 74 of Ottertail, MN and Indian Wells, CA passed away in the presence of family on June 22, 2012 after a courageous 18 year battle with prostate cancer in Fargo, ND. Jim was born February 16, 1938 in Fargo to Henry George and Nina (Parkman) Lehr. He spent all of his childhood years in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1955. He went on to college at North Dakota State University where he met Sally Davis and they got married on March 29, 1958 in Wadena, MN. Jim worked in the freight and distribution industry before entering a family business involved in produce distribution and trucking with his father in-law Russ Davis and brother in-law Gary Davis in 1969. Jim and Gary expanded the business into six communities across the upper Midwest. They were particularly proud that Russ Davis Wholesale is an employee owned business and are grateful to the many employees who helped in its growth. Jim was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and golf and was active in supporting Ducks Unlimited. He was active in community affairs having served on the Wadena School Board, as a member of the Board of Trustees for his local church and was active in the Wadena hockey association. It was almost twenty years that Jim battled with cancer. He fought it endlessly and valiantly without complaint. Jim lived by the motto “Attitude is Everything” and encouraged others to do so also. His three sons who also have prostate cancer wish to heighten awareness of early prostate cancer screening such that others will not suffer the fate of their father. He was so proud of his five grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by so many friends and relatives. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Nina; and his sister Ruth Ann Lehr Devine. He is survived by his wife Sally; sons J.D. (Connie) of Forest Lake, MN, Tom (Nancy) of Kingsburg, CA, and Steve (Natalie) of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren Alison (Matt) McIntyre and Mitchell Lehr of Duluth, MN, Taylor Lehr of Chico, CA, and Avery Lehr and William Lehr of St. Paul; sister Marilyn Breyer of Moorhead, MN; his beloved Davis family Gary (Benda) of Ottertail Lake, MN and Linda (Rodger) Rumery of Springfield, OR; and all their families. Memorial services were held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Wadena with Pastor Marli Danielson presiding. A service at the Desert Horizon Country Club in Indian Wells, CA will be held at a later date. The family prefers memorials to the Prostate Cancer Fund www.pcf.org/JimLehr

James Lehr

February 16, 1938 - June 22, 2012