Lee Everding

1936 - 2023

Everding, Lee
Palmer
10/18/1936 - 10/06/2023

Lee Palmer Everding passed after treatment in hospital for a fall, while lovingly held by her family, on October 6.

Lee was born in Cincinnati on October 18, 1936 to Nicholas Bayard and Virginia Lee Clinch. Her ancestry included Mary Dyer (martyred in Boston, 1660), General Clinch (Seminole Wars), Major Anderson (in command of Ft. Sumter at the start of the Civil War), and Win Campbell (EarthGrains, Rainbo bread). Her mother was an Alumnae Trustee of Radcliffe (Harvard), and her father earned the rank of Colonel through his service in WWI and WWII. Her brother led the first ascents of both Masherbrum and the highest peak in antarctica; Mt Vinson. Accordingly, she lived her own life of accomplishment in service to the Denver community.

As a child traveling across country with her family from their new home in Dallas, Lee heard distinct sounds in their moving car that shaped the arc of her life. Perhaps she heard the hum of a tire spinning in it's wheel well, but Lee reported clearly hearing the singing of angels in the car that day. Creating their own structures and liturgy, Lee played imaginary "church" with her friend from school. Just a child, Lee aspired to be a missionary, and in her way that's exactly what she became.

Escaping summer heat in Texas, Lee spent her childhood vacations at Cheley Colorado Camps where she earned multiple honors while falling in love with Colorado and its glorious mountains. She served as "Campfire Counselor" during her final year at camp. Coordinating intimate gatherings and experiences for women proved to be the perfect training ground for her later passions.

Lee graduated from Stanford University (Vice President of the Junior Class) with a B.A. in Education. There, she met Richard Kylberg, and they had two sons with whom they joyfully marched to ski areas, national parks, church, magic, judo, music lessons, summer camps… on the boys own paths to Stanford University.

She taught second grade students in Jefferson County schools for two years prior to enrolling in the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work where she earned her MSW. She reluctantly accepted payment for her counseling services, often offering to refund her clients for their sessions when they felt sufficiently healed.

Her marriage to Richard Kylberg ended, Lee went on to marry Ken Palmer, the legendary broadcast owner of KIMN in Denver. They had a wonderful, but short marriage, when Ken succumbed to cancer leaving Lee as the CEO of a newly formed radio station company. Lee guided this enterprise through its successful sale to her son.

Lee applied herself in earnest to service to individuals and our community. Some highlights include:

• President: Rocky Mountain Stanford Club
• President of the Board: Denver Girls (now Denver Kids, Inc.)
• Vice president: Junior League; Chair of Provisional Class
• Vice president: Denver Rotary
• Chair: Colorado Hospital Association
• Board: first woman non-nun member of Saint Joseph Hospital Board
• Board: Institute of International Education
• Board: Lutheran Family Services
• Board: Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood
• Board: American Humane Association
• Trustee: Colorado Academy
• Trustee: Women's Foundation of Colorado
• Trustee: National Samaritan Institute
• Trustee: Colorado Episcopal Foundation
• Trustee: Denver Foundation; Chair of Strengthening Neighbor\hoods Initiative
• Vestry: Saint John's Cathedral
• Co-founder: Abrahamic Initiative at Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral
• Committee: Minoru Yasui Selection Committee
• Committee: Girl Scouts Distinguished Women's Selection Committee
• Member: Mortar Board (Woman's College Honorary Association)

Lee established three philanthropic funds at The Denver Foundation that continue to support important initiatives in kindness and understanding in our community.

Starting as a book group for twenty women, Lee's Denver Eclectics program grew to over 400 women meeting 32 times per year to explore spiritual, economic, social, and cultural opportunities. KBDI-TV broadcast episodes of "Denver Eclectics" from 2006-2008.

Widowed, Lee eventually married Ed Everding, renowned for his administrative and academic roles at the Iliff School of Theology. Their love literally took them around the world, giving them rich lives and cherished friendships.

Along her path, Lee received many awards such as the Family Homestead: Outstanding Commitment to Volunteerism, Junior League: Outstanding Sustaining Member, Girl Scouts: Distinguished Woman and the Samaritan Institute Award for her outstanding contributions.

Lee is survived by her sons: elder Richard (his wife Jilliann and their son Trace) and younger Robert (his wife Gari and their son Angga), as well as her Everding daughters Linda, Lisa, Kelly and their delightful families. Her cat, Lady, was adopted by Trace. She is predeceased by her parents, brother, husbands Richard, Ken, and Ed, and her beloved Everding son Henry.

Lee's memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, November 4, at St. John's Cathedral, 1350 N. Washington St., Denver or join us live on-line at https://sjcathedral.org/funeral-service/. In lieu of flowers, please consider doing something kind for somebody else in this world.