Lee Mills

Lee C. Mills, 90, passed away Friday, February 8, 2013 at the Billings Clinic. He was born in Sibley, Iowa, May 30, 1922 to Doris Katherine Mitchell and Harley Mills. His Mother and Harley were subsequently divorced. She married William Gustin and the family moved to Miles City, MT in 1927. Lee was enrolled in the public schools as Lee Gustin. He graduated from Custer County High School in 1940. At that time, he was working for Carl Brodston in Charlie Hatch's garage as an apprentice auto body repairman. In 1941 Lee moved to Billings, MT and worked at Lew Chevrolet garage in the body and paint shop. In 1942 while working for Northwest Airlines, as an apprentice mechanic and ramp attendant, he entered the Army Air Force and was assigned to the Mechanic School at Sheppard Field, TX, and the Advanced Engine School at Chanute Field, IL. Lee's service experience included 22 months at the air base at Jorhat in the Assam province in India. This base was involved in flying supplies across the Himalaya mountains to China, this route was also known as 'The Hump'. His assignments included Ground Crew Chief responsibilities for the maintenance of a four engine transport aircraft and Flight Engineer duties. He accumulated 652 hours of flight time and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (twice), the Air Medal (twice) and the Presidential Unit Citation (twice). Upon Lee's rotation back to the states he married Stella Leone on April 25, 1945. Lee was subsequently assigned to Homestead Air Base in FL, as a Flight Engineer Instructor. After the war Lee and Stella lived in Billings while he went back to work for Northwest Airlines. After an assignment in St. Paul, MN, at the overhaul base they decided to move back to Billings and he went to work for Gillis Flying Service managing the shop and parts departments. Lee worked at Gillis for 10 years. In 1959 he was recruited by the Federal Aviation Agency as a Field Maintenance Inspector and was assigned to Fresno, CA and Helena, MT. While in Helena Lee participated with the Montana Aeronautics Commission in the establishment of a Flight Instructor Refresher Program which became a national effort to reduce aviation accidents. In addition, he developed a slide program which he presented to the organized pilot groups in western Montana. The program was demonstrated to Regional Headquarters, was copied, then sent to the 90 field offices in the U.S. and became a national program. Lee also worked with the Montana Aeronautics Commission to establish an annual airplane mechanic refresher seminar, wherein manufacturer representatives would conduct education programs in the field to update maintenance of their products. He was promoted to Field Office Supervisor while in Helena and after 12 years was transferred to Fargo, ND in a lateral assignment. While there he participated with The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to develop an Annual Mechanic Refresher program similar to the one in Montana. After 27 years of service Lee retired. He and Stella moved back to Billings to live closer to their families. Lee's interests included Square and Round Dancing for 17 years, photography, camping, music, golfing, and Lee was known as an avid reader. Together Lee and Stella taught Round Dancing at many state conventions and festivals in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Montana. He was a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, the CBI Hump Pilots Association, the Eagle Lodge in Fargo (for 15 years), and the Elk and Moose Lodges. He also made audio tapes of books for people with sight challenges, in addition to helping people learning English as a second language. He held a number of industry and service credentials such as FAA certificates as an Airplane Commercial Pilot, Mechanic with Aircraft and Engine ratings, and Parachute Rigger. Lee is survived by his son, Stephen and wife Terry, his grandson Jason, and his granddaughter Jennifer, her husband Richard Barfield and his great grandson's Dylan Yurko (Jennifer's) and Richard M Barfield (Richard's). Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Stella, in 2010. Service: Funeral Services for Lee will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 19 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Committal will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.