Byron George Lee

Byron was born in Rapid City, SD to Patricia Edna Kary of Norris, SD on the 6th of February1945. He was adopted by Warren “Doc” Lee and Margaret “Wifie” Lee in the spring of that year. Later in life, a widowed Doc Lee married Evelyn “Evie” Dawson, a long time friend and wonderful addition to the Lee family.

In the summer of 1946, Byron's family traveled from Vermillion to Custer State Park, where Doc Lee was just starting the Black Hills Playhouse. Two years later, adopted brother Milt Lee joined the family, and together they spent winters in Vermillion and summers at the BHP. Byron played many different roles there, from snack bar manager to the singing cowboy in “The Legend of Devil's Gulch.”

Byron graduated from Vermillion High School in 1963. He attended the University of South Dakota and earned a BS in English literature. Byron's love of speech and debate pointed him in the direction of law school. He attended the Bates College of Law at the University of Houston and graduated magna cum laude in 1976. Byron was a director at Coats, Rose, Ryman & Lee for many years where he practiced civil trial law. He tried over four hundred cases all over Texas until his retirement in 2015.

Byron was also a wanderer, a writer, and a man of simple needs. As a younger man, he spent some time traveling around the country before joining the Peace Corps, where he spent two years in the Philippines teaching English, while promoting peace and friendship. He toured the world on his way home and met up with an early college girlfriend, Yildiz Guleryuzlu in Ankara, Turkey. In late 1972 he came to Texas to join Yildiz who was teaching there. They married in 1973. A few years later they moved to Houston where Aunt Lois Lee Jones and her husband A.C. had been residing.

Byron’s loves included books, films, music, traveling, camping, fishing, tennis, playing cards and good times spent with friends and family. He spent many weekends fishing from his kayak in any fresh or salt water he could find around Houston. Then he would return to the Black Hills every summer, towing his pop-up behind him to camp, fish, play poker, and visit the BHP. He enjoyed the peacefulness of nature and solitude but never forgot his old friends.

Byron supported his family with love, guidance, and unwavering loyalty.

Byron is survived by his wife, Yildiz Lee; son Dylan Lee, daughter Marla M. Lee, son-in-law, Matthew Manske, and their two sons Theo Lee-Manske, and Peter Lee-Manske of Katy, TX, and his brother Milt Lee of Cass Lake, MN. Later in life he was able to connect with his biological family and is also survived by his brother Rick Rodriguez, and sister Bianca Conklin, both from Kansas, an aunt, Cordelia Johnson of Hill City, SD, and a cousin, Julie Martin of Rapid City, SD.

A memorial service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 15th of July, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests memorial contributions to be directed to the Black Hills Playhouse, P.O. Box 2513, Rapid City, SD 57709 (www.blackhillsplayhouse.com).