Rebecca L. Lee

1939 - 2024

Rebecca Lou (Reif) Lee, 85, of Wrights, passed away November 1, 2024. She was born to Mather and Florence Reif on July 16, 1939, in Woodville Township in Greene County Illinois. Becky married Lyle D. (Steve)Lee, July 19, 1958, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Illinois. Together they raised two sons Stephen and Scot.
Becky graduated from the Carrollton Schools with the class of 1957. After graduation, Becky worked at Owens Illinois Machine Shop and Mallinckrodt Chemical Plant in St. Louis. After work at Mallinckrodt, she attended classes at Lewis and Clark College and took a teaching aid position at the Southwestern School District. In addition to teaching Becky also coached, mentored and made lifetime friends with many cheerleaders at the Junior High. While at Southwestern, she was instrumental in starting the lemonade stand at the Brighton Picnics to benefit the Southwestern Athletic Club. You can still purchase the hand shaken lemonade 50 years later at the annual picnics. After retiring from teaching, Becky spent many hours volunteering at the Alton Woodriver Sportsmen Club. Many nights she would make the 70-mile round trip to attend board meetings, help with trap shoots, and rarely missed volunteering to help with the Thursday night bingo events. Her dedication eventually led to her being the first and to date, the only woman to be elected President of the organization. Becky also worked with her husband as a crop adjuster for various insurance agencies. In 2004 Steve and Becky decided that it was time to follow their dreams to build a new home and move to the family farm in Wrights. Becky worked tirelessly to keep the place mowed and landscaped and was always proud when they had family and friends over.
Becky is survived by two sons, Stephen (Linda) of Brighton, and Scot (Lesa) of Greenfield, three grandsons, Travis (Ashley) of Medora, Brandon (Brittany) of Brighton, and Dorson (fiancé' Rebekah Van Bebber) of Greenfield, two granddaughters, Ashli (Chris) Gapenski of Alton, Crystal Lee (Tony Black) of Alton, great-granddaughters, Angela Lott, Breanna Lee, great-grandsons, Deyton Hanebrink, Dustin and Mason Cunningham, and Aaron Davis, brother, Gary (Linda) Reif, nephews, Dirk, Greg, and Chris, step-father and longtime friend, Richard Merhoff, who she loved dearly for taking such good care of her mother, Florence. In addition to her parents, Becky was proceeded in death by, her husband Steve, a granddaughter Angela Lee and great granddaughter Bristol. As if she did not have enough to do, she also cared for her great-grandfather "Grandpa Reif" (Ed), of Hettick until his passing.
Arrangements will be provided by Shields- Bishop Funeral Home of Greenfield. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 pm. Thursday, November 7, at the First Baptist Church at 1152 NE 575 St., Greenfield, Illinois. A funeral service will be held Friday, Nov 8, at 10:30 am, at the church, conducted by Pastor Stephen Jacobson. Burial will be at the Hickory Grove cemetery, near Wrights. Memorials may be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Carrollton or Tiger Backers athletic club in Greenfield. Please leave a memory or condolence at shields-bishopfh.com