Lee R. Larkey

Age: 83

July 15, 1939 – December 15, 2022

Mass of Christian Burial for Lee Larkey will be on Thursday, December 22nd  at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Anna, Minnesota. Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 21 st from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the church. Parish prayers begin at 4:00 followed by the Rosary. Visitation also one hour prior to Mass on Thursday at the church. Burial will be at the parish cemetery.

Lee Ralph Larkey, 83, of Avon, Minnesota passed away peacefully at St.Cloud Hospital on December 15th surrounded by his family.  Lee was born on July 15th, 1939, in Great Falls, MT to Frank and Gladys (Vinson) Larkey.  He graduated from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1961.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force and was commissioned as an officer.  He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force as a Captain on November 15th, 1972.  Lee met Bernadette Woitalla in college, and they married on August 27th, 1963, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. Anna. Lee was a Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service for many years, retiring at the age of 55. Following his retirement, he helped many individuals prepare tax returns and negotiated resolution to difficult cases.  Lee was a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as a Past Grand Knight. For many years, he supported the rebuilding of the Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church in Vladivostok, Russia with Fr. Myron Effing and Fr. Dan Maurer. He visited the mission at the age of seventy-three. Lee was active in the Pro-Life movement on behalf of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, where he took many trips to our state Capitol and Washington, D.C.  He was active in the Republican Party at the local and state levels. Lee had many interests, including gardening of herbs and vegetables, raising ducks and geese, and beekeeping. His beekeeping business was called the Honey Hut.  Lee not only raised bees, but sold bees and supplies for beekeepers, and of course, honey. Many who knew Lee considered him a pillar of the church community. Lee was a person of action, not content to sit and let others do the work. Most of all, Lee enjoyed playing with his grandkids, playing cribbage and UNO, and petting his beloved cats.

Lee is survived by his beloved wife, Bernadette, Avon; children Theresa (Michael) Graveen, Cottage Grove, Joseph (Betty Jane) Larkey, Sauk Rapids, Kathleen (LaVerne) Freeman, Amherst, OH, Michael (Lori Johnson) Larkey, St.Cloud, Daniel (Nancy) Larkey, Albany, son-in-law, Scott Rausch, Avon; 13 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren; sisters Sue Stark (and family), Maplewood, Nancy Larkey and Patricia Larkey, both of St. Paul. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Mary Rausch, grandson, Jason Larkey, and brother-in-law, Harold “Buster” Stark.

Schedule and Information

Mass of Christian Burial for Lee Larkey will be on Thursday, Dec 22 at 11AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church St. Anna, St. Anna.   Visitation on Wed, Dec 21 from 4-8 PM with a prayer service at 4 PM followed by a rosary, all at the church.  Visitation also one hour prior to Mass on Thursday at the church.  Burial in the parish cemetery.

Visitation Details

Visitation on Wed, Dec 21 from 4-8 PM with a prayer service at 4 PM followed by a rosary, all at the church.  Visitation also one hour prior to Mass on Thursday at the church.  Burial in the parish cemetery.

Service Details

Mass of Christian Burial for Lee Larkey will be on Thursday, Dec 22 at 11AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church St. Anna, St. Anna.    Burial in the parish cemetery.

Service Location

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

St Anna Dr, Avon, MN 56310

Service Map