Denise Rae Lee

Denise Lee, 57, of Monument Colorado, passed away on January 1, 2025 after a hard battle against the complications from a heart defect that gave way in September of 2024.

Denise was born in August of 1967 in Crosby, Minnesota, to Ron and Sally Menzel.  After Denise graduated from Anoka High School in 1985, Denise went on to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.

Denise met her future husband Dave Lee while attending NDSU, and the couple married in April 1989.  Dave’s Air Force career carried them around the United States: from Fargo, to Omaha, to Dayton, to Albuquerque (where they welcomed their first son, Zachary), to northern Virginia (where they welcomed their second son, Timothy), and finally to the Monument/Colorado Springs area. 

While in Omaha, Denise worked with clients at a group home for developmentally challenged adults. Denise obtained a Teaching certification in special education and taught elementary special ed while the family lived in New Mexico.  While in Colorado, Denise worked as an elementary ed paraprofessional, as a health information specialist, a senior services coordinator, and as a hospital information coordinator.

Denise is survived by her husband Dave and her sons Zack and Tim. She is also survived by her mother Sally and her brother Keith.

Services will be held at Vista Grande Community Church, 5460 N. Union Blvd, Colorado Springs 80918, at 11am on Thursday, January 9, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that folks consider a donation to marfan.org, the Marfan Foundation.  Marfan’s syndrome is a genetic condition related to a number of the issues Denise battled throughout her life, including her heart defect. 

Alternatively, consider a donation to the American Cancer Society, as Denise successfully battled and defeated an aggressive form of breast cancer earlier in 2024, before her heart defect struck.  She beat that cancer thanks to early detection and skilled medical care. 

 Finally, everyone reading this should schedule all their cancer screening, and make a point of hugging their loved ones on our behalf.