June Bailey

June Esther Bailey (nee Johnson), age 74, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully on Saturday, June 19, 2004 at her Pine Villa residence in Melrose, Minnesota.

Preceded in death by husbands, Milton Lepowsky and Lynn Bailey, daughter, Paula Ritchie and great-grandson, Ryan Holt.

Survived by daughters, Suzan (Bob) Iversen, Cherryl (Karsy) Williams, Robin Lepowsky, Juedi (Steve Block) Lepowsky-Alexander and Marni Lepowsky; only son, John (Laura) Lepowsky; sister Carmen (Gerry) Duchaine; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22 at Little Sauk-Long Bridge Lutheran Church, rural Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be at the church from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Inurnment will follow in the parish cemetery.

June Bailey was born on June 14, 1930 to Leif and Esther Johnson. The Johnson family included five children, Carmen, Leif Jr., Richard, June and James. The family lived on Lake Minnetonka in Deephaven, Minnesota and enjoyed many wonderful memories of fishing, swimming and boating. June remembers being "Daddy's Girl". June attended high school in Wayzata, where she met and later married her high school sweetheart, Milton Lepowsky, in June of 1948.

June worked in high school and for many years after her marriage, as a service assistant for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. Milton worked various jobs as a timekeeper, salesman and a bartender. June also did some day care and was a test baker for Betty Crocker, which she enjoyed. Together they raised their family…Suzan, Cherryl, Robin, Paula, Juedi, John and Marni. They are a close family, with many memories of fishing, swimming and boating. Years ago, they frequently vacationed at their grandparent's cabin. June always enjoyed bowling and her team has competed at the State level. June lost Milton to a cerebral hemorrhage. A few years later, she met and married Lynn Bailey. Lynn and June had a logging business for some time, which they eventually sold. The couple purchased a resort on Sauk Lake, where they enjoyed many good times playing cards and telling stories with friends, family and, neighbors. About seven years ago, June lost Lynn, as well as her daughter Paula. In the past several years, the business has been sold, but remains in the family. June was a member of Little Sauk - Long Bridge Lutheran Church, and a former member of the Little Sauk Legion Auxiliary.

June enjoyed spending time with, or talking about her family. She has ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Urn bearer will be her son, John Lepowsky. Honorary bearers will be her grandchildren, Cari Holt, Terry Moore, Dana Luc, Karsten Williams, Matthew Lepowsky, Michelle Alexander, Molly Block, Jessi Ritchie, Billy Ritchie, and Nikole Lepowsky.