Alice Barbara “Dede” Palo Lee Raynes, age 96, passed away peacefully in her Saint George home on August 26, 2026 from age related conditions. Barbara was born October 14, 1929 to Grace Irene Killorn and John Emil Palo in Great Falls, Montana. She joined the Palo family on the ranch near Fort Shaw, Montana where her older brother, John Allen Palo (Junior) called her the Deedee (the baby). She was always called Dede by her family throughout her life. At the time of her death, she had been widowed for over 4 years but continued to live on her own in the home she had shared with her second husband, Lincoln Raynes.

Education was important to Barbara because it was very important to her parents who had little formal education. As a young girl, her dad would drill her on math facts as he separated the milk from the cream. When her best friend big brother went to school, she insisted that they play school when he came home in the evening and on weekends. She thrived on those early learning experiences as well as every learning experience throughout her life. Junior’s school teacher often asked her mother to let Barbara come to school with him because the only actual students in the school were boys. By the time she started school the next year, that local school closed, so Dede and Junior had to board in town (Cascade) about 15 miles away from the ranch during the week. The classroom was combined 1st and 2nd grades; Barbara was always more interested in what the 2nd graders were doing. By the end of the year, she had completed all of the work for both grades and was promoted to 3rd grade. She was only 16 when she graduated from high school. Her high school career was filled academics, basketball, playing clarinet in the school band, performing in couple of plays and other activities. After graduating, she started bookkeeping at Montgomery Wards in Great Falls. She believed that her parents were disappointed that she didn’t go on to college after high school. She was somewhat shy as a young woman, but the real reason she didn’t pursue college was a special young man.

In the fall of her senior year (1945) World War II ended. A cocky, flashy Marine in his uniform, caught her eye. Edward Corbett (Ted) Lee had seen combat in several of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific and was one of the very first combat veterans to return to the Sun River Valley. Ted and Barbara started dating with dancing being a huge part of their courtship. Her love of dancing continued to the end of her life. Before graduation, he asked her if she loved him enough to wear a ring. He gave the engagement ring the night of Baccalaureate in May. Barbara would turn 17 in October and they planned to marry in November. Barbara’s little sister, Peggy Jo interfered with those plans. The wedding was put off until after the baby was born. Ted and Barbara were married on June 27, 1947. She was not yet 18.

After marriage Ted and Barbara worked together. One time they sorted potatoes. Later they worked on a wheat farm, where Barbara would cook meals for the help and Ted did the outside work. They had a huge garden there and also raised turkeys at least one year. Their family started less than a year after they were married: first with a son, Edward Palo Lee, second a daughter, Vickie Irene Lee, a 2nd son Gary Palo Lee, and finally another daughter Lauretta Lee.

Barbara in her later life worked in the medical field as office manager. She also worked as a bank teller, a salesclerk, a grocery checker, and in accounting at Wards and at a Great Falls nursing home. Because of her sharp mind and strong work ethic, she was able to transition into the age of computers fairly easily. During her working years she took a number of classes to help her succeed. She always said that anything worth doing was worth doing well and right.

In the early 50’s, Barbara and Ted started attending the LDS Church. Barbara, who had been raised Lutheran, joined the church and the family was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 10, 1954. She held numerous teaching and leadership positions in the LDS church.

Her sweetheart, Ted, passed away on March 17, 1996. Following his death, she served 2 member locator missions in St. George and an 18-month mission in Australia.

After 13 years alone, she married Lincoln Francis Raynes. The marriage was the second for both of them. They had many adventures together and they kept each other company for 13 years before Lincoln’s passing in 2022.

Barbara was dearly loved by those who survive including her sister: Peggy Jo (Philip) Johnson; children: Edward Palo (Julie) Lee, Vickie Irene Lee Koernig (Lawrence Anthony Rybka), Gary Palo (Dona) Lee, and Lauretta (Kenneth) Farnsworth; 26 grandchildren, 81 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was also dearly loved by her numerous surviving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: John Emil Palo and Grace Irene Killorn; her brother: John Allen (Junior) Palo; her 2 husbands: Edward Corbett (Ted) Lee and Lincoln Francis Raynes; 2 granddaughters: twins Faythe Marie and Jessica Zoe Lee. As the last surviving member of her generation, she was preceded in death by Ted’s brother and sisters and their spouses – all of whom she loved as her own.

We are confident that she is reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Ted Lee, and that they are dancing in heaven. She is also enjoying a joyous reunion with those who have gone before. Ted has had many years to enjoy the twin granddaughters, but now Barbara is loving on them too.

A funeral will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the St. George 2nd Ward Main Street Building. Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 10: 30 a.m. under the care of MacArthur Funeral Home and Cremation Center.

The grave will be dedicated on Monday, September 7, 2026 11 a.m. at the Sun River Cemetery. Following the dedication, everyone is invited to the Sun River Valley Ward Building to share their favorite memories of Barbara’s life. Due to the holiday weekend, burial will be on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Sun River Cemetery, Sun River, Montana.