The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-19
KIDNEY
TROUBLE
AFTER ILLNESS
Funeral Services to Be Held in
Bismarck and Burial Will
Be in MinOt
HOMESTEADED IN STATE
Regime as Warden of North
Dakota Prison Marked by
Greatest Expansion

John j. Lee, 81, warden of the
North Dakota state penitentiary
since September, 1923, died in 4
local hospital at a. III. today.
Death was due to kidney complica.
tions resulting from an operation
for hernia.
Lee had been suffering from her.
MIA for several months, being taken
to the hospital November Ia. He
underwent the operation November
Is, and the complications developed
Immediately, according to attending
physicians.
He was reported slightly improved
Saturday night, but took turn for
the worse last night and failed grad.
ually until the time of his death.
The following statement was is
sued this morning by Miss Chrissie
F. Bulge, executive secretary to
Governor Maddox:
again the state is enshrouded in
sorrow in the passing of good citi-
zen and faithful officer. / have just
informed Governor Maddox. who is
in Denver, Of the death of Warden
Lee. For the governor and for my
self wish to express our feelings
of great sorrow and bereavement.
and to extend to Mrs. Lee and her
children the deepest sympathy. The
death Of Warden Lee is q great loss"
Funeral arrangements have not
yet been made, but it is believed that
short services will be conducted in
Bismarck and burial made in Minot,
Ieaves Wife (,hi1drAm
Lee leaves his wife and six chill.
dren: Julia Gertrude, %; Olive Ellen,
20; Rakkel, Is; John Clarence, Is;
Irwin Arthur, Ia; Clarice, 9; and
Ragnvold, 6.
John j. Lee was born near STAY.
anger, Norway, December 25. 1874,
being the third child in a family Of
seven children. He came to America,
with q younger brother, when he
was Is years old and secured en-
ployment as a farm hand in Living
ston county, Illinois. He could not
speak English at that time.
He remained in Illinois until about
1897, when he moved to Texas, set
ting west Of Houston, where he op-
Grated farm for two years. He
then moved to Ward county, North
Dakota, and filed on q homestead,
where he lived until he proved up on
the property. He afterward entered
the employ of a lumber company.
Returns to Norway
He spent the summer of 1909 at
his home in Norway, and concen-
trated upon stock raising when he
returned to his Ward county farms.
Lee attended school in Norway
when he was boy, and continued his
education in this country at Vail
paraiso, Ind, normal school.
He was married to Miss Clara
Foss, Traill county, in April, 1905.
Mr.. Lee was q member Of the blue
lodge and chapter of Masonry at
Minot. He was also q member Of
the Benevolent Protective Order OF
Elks and the Sons Of Norway. He
was president of the Sons of Norway
building association.
Appointed by Nestos
John j. Lee received his first an.
polntment as warden at the state
penitentiary July 19, 1923, and be-
gan his first term in September Of
the same year, during the admin.
istration Of Governor r. A. Nestos.
On July l, 1925, with A. G. Sorlie
as governor, Lee was appointed for
q two-year term, and was appointed
again in 1927.
Before coming to Bismarck from
Minot, Lee was sheriff of Ward
county from 1905 to 1908. and later.
during the session of 1911, served
that district in the lower house Of
the state legislature. He did not
seek reelection.
For four years he was q member
Of the city commission at Minot. The
balance Of his time was devoted to
his extensive farming interests in
Ward county.
Under Lees guidance the various
departments of the penitentiary saw
their greatest growth. Members Of
the board of administration have
said that Lee was personally and
directly responsible for the building
program and expansion that took
place during his regime.
Improves Twine Plant
In 1924 new twine plant office
was built at the prison, giving both
the main prison department and the
twine department more room. Prior
to that time all business Of both
departments was conducted in one
office.
In the fall Of 1923 an addition was
made to the twine warehouse, max
ing room for two million pound.
more Of the finished product, and in
1925-26 another addition was made
and the building was made fireproof.
Electric hosting machinery was in
stalled. The twine warehouse now
has capacity Of nearly 7.500, 900
pounds.
When Lee took charge Of the pris-
on the plant turned out from two
million to three and one half million
pounds Of twine per year. In 1928
the output had increased to six mil
lion pounds per annum.
In 1926 the main power house wss
overhauled, the root raised several
feet. and made strictly fireproof.
Mechanical stokers were installed.
which decreased the fuel consump-
tion fully Is per cent.
Double gates and electric locking
devices were installed at the truck
gates, where the prisoners 70 % and
/ &~n~nA AA~s~ -,>eaA - -.