S. Lee Busch

Shannon Lee Busch, 48, of Great Falls passed away Friday, September 27, 2013, the result of a tragic car accident.Lee was born on December 14, 1964, in Great Falls, MT, the oldest son of Clayton and Joyce Busch. Lee was raised and received his early schooling in Stanford, Montana. Following graduation from Stanford High School in 1983, Lee further pursued his education at MSU-Northern in Havre, Montana. He graduated with high honors in 1987 with a degree in Diesel Technology.Following graduation, Lee started his professional career working for Hoven Equipment as a field mechanic. Lee was then hired as an apprentice mechanic by Great Falls Truck Center in the fall of 1987. Under the direction of Gaelan Smith, he finished his apprenticeship with ease and soon became a Journeyman Diesel Mechanic. Lee spent 17 years working for Freightliner as a journeyman mechanic. In April of 2004 he started his current position at United Parcel Service as the Great Falls United Parcel Service Fleet Mechanic. Lee took detailed care of his fleet of trucks and took great pride in work. His personal relationships with the UPS employees attested to his unwavering love for his work. United Parcel Service lost an amazing professional. Lee received numerous certifications and was an accomplished professional mechanic. A career highlight for Lee was being selected to represent United Parcel Service at the National TMC SuperTech Competition. He traveled to North Carolina where he competed.In 1989 he was united in marriage to Theresa Margaret Fordyce and together they have one son, Colton Lee Buschthe pride and joy of Lees life. Family, his son Colton and wife Theresa, snowmobiling, motorcycling, boating, hunting, Centerville football were a few of his favorite things. During the summer you would find him mowing his immaculate lawn and growing his beautiful garden, while still taking time to go to Holter Lake to watch his son wakeboard, kneeboard and Jet Ski. Lee was very proud of his family cabin and enjoyed all the moments he got to spend there with loved ones. You would also find him during the summer riding the trails at Kings Hill with his dirt bike. In the fall we would find Lee watching Centerville football as his son played for the Miners. The fall was also the kick off to the NFL and College Football Season, you would find him enjoying many afternoons watching the New England Patriots and Montana State Football. Then brings hunting season where you would often find Grandpa Busch, Lee and Colton enjoying outdoors and time together in search of The Big One. At the end of hunting season we could all look forward to our favorite Thanksgiving Dinner because Lee would cook his specialtyPRIME-RIB for his family and drink from Red Solo Cup.The snow brought on another one of Lees passionSnowmobiling where you would find him riding his M10 in Cooke City, Lincoln, and Kings Hill. Along with family and friends that he enjoyed sharing his passion for snowmobiling as they rode together on trails and hills enjoying the adrenaline rush! The winter also brought his sons basketball season where he would spend many days in the Centerville gym as a proud dad watching his son play. Spring meant Yellowstone Snow Expo and Jackson Hole Snowmobile Hill climb, planting his garden, preparing his yard for the summer season and he enjoyed time at the ranch working cattle, branding, and preparing for the boating season. But Lee was most passionate in the spring about Coltons track season. When Lee wasnt with his family he also enjoyed time spent volunteering to serve for Great Falls Catholic Engaged Encounter.One of Lees proudest moments was in 2007 when Lee broke ground to fulfill a lifelong dream of building a dream home for his wife and son. He was a part of each and every process that cumulated into an amazing work of art. His house was a work of art that he was proud to provide for his two angels in his life, Theresa and Colton. Besides being a professional mechanic he was a carpenter, antique snowmobile restorer and worked tirelessly on restoration of multiple thunderbird cars for his parents.Lee is survived by his wife of 23 years, Theresa and his one and only son, Colton Lee, both of Great Falls; his parents, Clayton and Joyce Busch of Stanford; one brother; Brett (Dawn) Busch and their son Jackson Busch of Boise, ID; Aunt Celene Merenz and Uncle Ken of Spokane WA, Ellen Marie Wirtala of Great Falls; Billie Jean Wirtala of Great Falls; sisters and brothers-in-law, Amy (Dick) Hein of Gillette, WY, Mary (Kenny) Surber of Pinedale, WY, Dolly (Jerry) Wells of Lewistown, George (Janet) Archey of Longmont, CO, Lucy (Ray) Garcia of Socorro, NM, Patty (Lon) Nemec of Coffee Creek, Jimi (Kevin) Carter of Billings, Tammie (Cory) Poser of Denton; nieces and nephews Jackie Scott and Mitchell Hein, Kim and Kevin Surber, Terry, David, Greg, Jeff, and Julie Kjersem, George Jr., Danny, and Jesse, Archey, Clarissa, and Ashley Garcia, Lance and Linsee Nemec, Courtney and Immanuel Carter; and mother-in-law, Thelma Fordyce of Lewistown. All loved him and will miss him dearly, along with two Golden Retrievers that were very dear to Lee.He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hagen Maa of Hayford CA; Evelyn Wirtala and Sam Wirtala from Sand Coulee; Robert and Verda Busch of Raynesford; his infant brother Bret Busch (from whom Brett was named after); Aunt Sherry Wirtala of Sand Coulee; great grandfather and grandmother Mary and Bill Myllymaki of Stanford; his father-in-law, Barney Fordyce of Lewistown; and his sister-in-law Sandy Archey Fordyce of Lewistown.Funeral Services for Lee Busch will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Friday, October 4, 2013, 4 p.m., with a reception to follow at Holy Spirit Community Room. Burial will take place at a later date. Schnider funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MSU Northern Diesel Technology Program or Centerville "public" Schools in Lees honor.From a motorcycle ride to a snowmobile climbWhatever your rush may beDo it with passion and do it with PrideFor Today Ill live out my dreamsLifes a RideMake it a good one!