Leroy Alden Baunsgard

Lee was escorted to his heavenly home on February 28, 2026. He was 76 years old. Lee was born in Seattle, WA, on August 27, 1949, to Alden E. Baunsgard and Dorothy (née Culver) Baunsgard. He had three siblings who were 8 to 15 years older than himself: Donna Lee Day, Loren Noel Baunsgard, and Faye Edith Faddis. All of his family preceded him in death.

In many ways, Lee had an idyllic childhood growing up in the 1950s. He loved to tell stories about riding his bicycle 38 miles to the countryside of Carnation or bicycling to the 1962 World’s Fair, where he discovered a secret entrance to enjoy the festivities multiple times. Often running beside him was his faithful companion, Susie Q McNamara, a cocker spaniel named after a character from the Ozzie and Harriet television show.

After working his way through college, Lee graduated in 1975 from Seattle Pacific College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art. For a while, he displayed his beautiful and unique oil paintings in an art gallery in downtown Seattle's Pioneer Square. Some of his art was purchased by nationally known corporations.

In his early 20s, Lee’s life was forever changed when he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Jesus was squarely at the center of Lee’s life, and his passion was for everyone to become intimately acquainted with Him. He was intensely involved in Christian ministry for most of his life and received ministerial ordination through the International Fellowship of Ministries. Lee ministered to men in the Monroe prison and Everett Gospel Mission, served as the head of Prayer Counselors for both the Everett and Greater Seattle Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowships, led numerous home groups, and taught and pastored youth and adults, including those in assisted living and senior care facilities.

In the 1990s, Lee’s ministry expanded into other countries. His missionary work began in Guatemala as a handyman for a mission base. Later, he answered the call to Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. There, he discipled and taught a young startup church for months at a time over several years. He also ministered in Romania. At times, he recruited small teams of people to minister alongside him.

Friends and acquaintances found in Lee a listening ear and wise counsel. He was an encourager by nature, optimistic, humorous, kind, humble, considerate, gentle,

passionate, a romantic, and full of creative ideas and fun. He loved the outdoors, hiking, skiing, bicycling, kayaking, playing basketball, and watching college football.

His love of art, design, and history led to a fascination with antiques, collectibles, classic cars, auto memorabilia, stamp collecting, and photography. He was energized by the idea of functional fixedness, which dovetailed perfectly with his enthusiasm for garage sailing. He was happy when working with his hands: building garden cottages from reclaimed materials, designing garden landscapes, building decks, and restoring antique cabinets. As a painter, he utilized a variety of subjects, but he was best known for his Thomas Kinkade-style paintings of cozy cottages nestled in tranquil gardens, as well as for his large flower paintings.

In 2002, Lee married the love of his life, Karen Hudson. They built a house in Port Ludlow, WA, where he started a handyman and landscaping business called Garden Gables. He continued this business after they moved to Karen’s hometown of Yakima in 2006. They enjoyed exploring the east side of Washington state together, and vacationing often on the Oregon Coast with its beautiful beaches and many antique/thrift stores and art galleries.

In 2019, when Lee began showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, he told Karen, “I’ll be okay as long as I don’t forget you.” Although he seemed to forget nearly everyone he knew, he loved and remembered Karen until the end. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Lee is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Joyce (née Hudson) Baunsgard, and children from a previous marriage.

Many thanks to family and friends who supported and prayed for Lee and Karen over the past several years. Also, to the wonderful caregivers at Ohana Adult Family Home who lovingly cared for Lee during the past 15 months. And, finally, to the Heartlinks Hospice team who expertly and tenderly helped transition Lee from this world into the next.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the next few months in both Seattle and Yakima. Please check back for details.