Retired Major Leland Dyer

Retired Major Leland Kent "Lee" Dyer, age 73, of Fort Collins went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2008. Lee was born Nov. 25, 1934, at Fort Meade in Sturgis, S.D., to Lucy and Emmett B. Dyer. He served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1977. He married his bride and friend on Sept. 16, 1961, in Chalfont, Pa., and subsequently raised three children while serving our country here and abroad. During his nearly 21 years of service, he was stationed in France and Greece, and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired as a Major at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He then moved his family to Fort Collins and spent 21 years as Assistant Director of Central Receiving at Colorado State University. He retired from that position in September 2000. Lee enjoyed all of life's adventures, particularly traveling across the country and around the world during his military days. He counts the relationships he developed with his family and friends among his greatest accomplishments, and he will be greatly missed by them all. Lee is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Adele, of Fort Collins, daughter, Melanie Garcia and husband, Martin, of Denver; son, Kevin Dyer and wife, Brenda, of Fort Collins; and daughter, Cheryl Hardy and husband, Brian, of Parker. He is also survived by his sister, Dawn Solmonson and brother-in-law, Larry, of Sturgis, S.D.; his sister, Virginia Rogers of Albuquerque, N.M.; nine grandchildren, Stephanie Garcia, Nathan Garcia and wife Kelsey, Courtney Garcia, Natalie Garcia, Ryan Dyer, Heather Dyer, Brendon Hardy, Preston Hardy, and Grayson Hardy; and by several nieces, nephews & cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Norman "Rippy" Dyer and Emmett Dyer, Jr.; and by sister-in-law, Joan Travis Dyer; and brother-in-law, Joseph Rogers. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins and Kinkaid Funeral Home in Sturgis, S.D. A Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5th, at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins, followed by a Military burial service at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, S.D., on Wednesday, Sept. 10th. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to any Humane Society in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.