Dr. Edward Lee King

Dr. Edward Lee King, 88, of Manhattan, MT went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 28, 2012. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Cassandra (McConchie) and James King on February 9, 1924. He passed away at home of natural causes. During his second year at Ohio State he was drafted into WWII. He served with the 1st Calvary in the Philippines and later became part of the occupational forces stationed in Japan. Upon completion of his military service he reentered Ohio State majoring in Pre Med. He completed medical training at Case Western Reserves in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951. While attending Ohio State he met Elisabeth Brown at a Young Christians Bible Study. He married the love of his life, Elisabeth “Betty” Brown on June 11, 1949. The newlyweds came out west in 1951 to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to serve in the Public Health Service. A short stay turned into 10 years of service as a family doctor to the Blackfeet with Betty at his side as his nurse. While in Browning, Doc and Betty had 2 children, David and Therese. In 1961 the family moved to Manhattan and Doc began a family practice for the town of Manhattan and the surrounding area. The Kings added another member to the family, Laura. It would be safe to say that Dr. King had an unbounded love for his patients and the town of Manhattan itself. He practiced medicine where house calls and being on call 24/7 were the norm. He took care of many patients from birth into adulthood. After he retired from his practice in Manhattan in 1991 he served 5 years at the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs. It was a 9-5 job that he enjoyed very much. When Doc and Betty moved back to Manhattan Dad once again served the town of Manhattan by being elected to the Town Council. Doc always had the best interest of Manhattan at heart. He was a longtime member of the Manhattan Bible Church where he served as deacon and leader of adult Sunday School classes. Doc’s love for the Lord gave him strength to serve his many patients and the town of Manhattan. Doc loved gardening and snowmobiling and spent many happy days with his wife at their cabin near West Yellowstone, MT. He was preceded in death by his father, his mother, and his two brothers Robert Wilford King and Howard Bayard King. Doc is survived by his wife Betty; son David King of Livingston; daughters Therese King of Livingston and Laura (A.J.) Niemi of Manhattan; and his grandchildren Taylor Niemi, Braedon Niemi, Kira Niemi and Caitlin Niemi. A memorial service will be held at 1pm, Monday, March 5, 2012 at the Manhattan Bible Church with the presentation of the United States Flag. Following the service will be a time of refreshments and remembrance of Doc’s life in the basement of the church. Memorials may be made to the Manhattan Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 911, Manhattan, MT 59741 and/or the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1307, Bozeman, MT 59771. Please make memorials in remembrance of Doc King so that the family can thank you for your gift.