Leland Wayne Britton

Leland “Lee” Wayne Britton was born on October 11, 1947, to Stanley and Lura Rosalie Britton in Lebanon, Oregon, the third of four sons. He passed away into the arms of the Heavenly Father he loved and served on the morning of January 31st after giving a presentation at Twin Rocks Conference Center.

Lee spent most of his growing up years in the Salem area where he attended grade school and graduated from Salem Academy High School in 1965. He attended Multnomah School of the Bible from 1966-67 before joining the U.S. Navy in 1967 . He was a Damage Controlman 2nd Class (E-5) and served on board the USS Procyon during the Vietnam War. He was an entrepreneur at heart and after buying a sewing machine while overseas; he earned money on board ship sewing repairs for other sailors. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1973 and began attending Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, receiving a B.S. in Social Science/Corrections and a minor in Psychology in 1975.

Once graduated from college Lee entered the Summer Institute of Linguistics (Brazil Branch) where he worked with concrete block and wood frame construction as well as with the indigenous tribal groups and local Brazilian workers. He also worked with J-Bar-J Boys Ranch in Bend, Oregon and Camp Firwood in Bellingham, Washington. In his younger years he loved bicycling, canoeing, backpacking, flying and refinishing antiques. He was a man of many talents and interests, one of which was working on their beautiful log cabin in the hills outside of McMinnville.

Lee returned to school at Western Seminary in 1981 and earned his Masters of Divinity.

Lee met Irene Inbody in 1980 in Seattle, Washington. They were married August 29, 1981, in Choteau, Montana, and there began the journey of ministering together in the inner city of Portland with various people groups under the American Missionary Fellowship (AMF, now InFaith). “Mr. Lee”, as he was called, was dearly loved by the Hmong and Mien people that he served and came alongside so faithfully for many years. He was an example of Christ’s love to them and showed it through his actions.

Lee and Irene were blessed with three children, Caleb (Elizabeth), Joshua (Brenda) and Ruth (Keoni) who were a vital part of their parent’s ministry as well. They also welcomed into their family an adopted daughter, Tyler (Chris Yongchu) and her children Wendi, Emily and Billy.

Lee is survived by his wife and children, adopted grandchildren, and brothers Lawrence “Allen”, Michael and Darrell. He is preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Beautiful Autumn.

A memorial service for Lee will be held on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5, at New Hope Community Church in Portland, times to be announced later. Private interment at Willamette National Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers:

Memorials to further God's Kingdom give to:

InFaith

Portland Hmong Alliance Church

New Life in Christ Church

Gospel Hmong Alliance Church