Lee H. Boettcher

Lee Harley Boettcher, 76, a lifelong Stewartville, MN resident died on Saturday July 4, 2026 following a short illness with acute myeloid leukemia at Mayo Clinic Rochester – Methodist Campus.                                                                                                         

Lee  Harley  Boettcher was born on June 29, 1950. He was born and raised  on the family farm in High Forest Twsp, MN to Harley and Martha (Ahrens) Boettcher.  He attended Stewartville schools, graduating from Stewartville HS in 1968. He went on to attend Winona State University in Winona, MN to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in  Education/Coaching.  He also received his MBA from WSU later in his career.  While at WSU he met and married Kathleen Ann DeYoe on September 4, 1971 at Grace Baptist Church, in Minneapolis, MN. Kathy was and continued to be Lee’s biggest fan throughout their marriage. After getting married, the couple lived in various locations before finding themselves back in Stewartville on the family farm in 1981. Lee had a  2 year baseball career in the minor leagues when he was drafted by the NY Yankees as a pitcher. He was employed as a  Teacher / Coach in Byron,MN, and as an Insurance agent, farmer, and Administrator at Mayo Clinic on both the Rochester Campus and Owatonna Clinic Campus until his retirement. Kathy was a life long employee in various business roles at the Mayo Clinic until  her retirement.  

 Lee was a longtime member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville where he served on the Church council, as an Elder, and on numerous other committees.  He belonged to the Stewartville Lions Club for years and in 2022 the club honored him as their “Lion of the Year". Lee enjoyed golf with his best buddies, fishing and supporting anything baseball. His advice to his grandkids was to “just keep throwing strikes”. In October of 2024, Lee was honored as an inductee into the WSU Athletic Hall of fame for his Baseball career. He loved dogs and had a special bond with his dog Buster.  He was the proud Commissioner of his fantasy football league for 50 plus years and loved being outdoors mowing and tending his gardens.  He was definitely a people person and seemed to know and could speak to everyone. He loved time spent with family, especially with his grandchildren as he watched them pursue their passions. His retirement years were spent golfing, fishing at his lake home, and going to almost every ballfield or gymnasium in southeastern and Central MN, where he could be found cheering on any team his family was a part of!

Lee is survived by his wife of 55 years – Kathy -  son Scott (Amy), daughter Jena (Erik) Osberg and son Jade (Jenni): 8 Grandchildren -  Bo and Blake Boettcher, Anna, Leah and Will Osberg, Katilyn, Kennedy and Harper Boettcher ; Sister – Fay (Bob Goldstrand) and God -daughters - Sara (Bandon) Goldstrand and Jackie Betcher and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Harley and Martha Boettcher.

A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday (July 25, 2026) at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville,MN with Rev. Justin Kumfer officiating.  A time of visitation for family and friends will be held from 4 to 7:00 PM on Friday July 24, 2026 at St. Johns Lutheran Church and from 9:30 AM  to the time of service at the church on Saturday morning. Burial and a committal service will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville. Gifts and donations can be made to the Stewartville Diamond Club, St John’s Lutheran Church, or to Sprint for a Cure in honor of Lee. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Lee are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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