William Lee Tucker Jr., age 83, died Saturday, November 23, 2013 at his home in Brookings under hospice care. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at Morningside Community Church in Brookings, with interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home. W. Lee Tucker Jr. was born on January 18, 1930 to William Lee Tucker and Elizabeth Ruth (Scearce) Tucker at his grandparent's farm in Finchville, Kentucky. He graduated from Finchville High School in May of 1948 and from the University of Kentucky in May of 1952, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dairy Science. In 1950, while active in the 4H Club at the University of Kentucky, Lee was the first 4H Project State Champion from Shelby County, Kentucky with a championship in Dairy Science. As a project champion, Lee won a trip to Chicago, Illinois in November of 1950. While there, he met Doris Smith. She was the State Food Preparation Champion from South Carolina. On May 17, 1952, they were married. The couple farmed for three years in Kentucky until Lee began his studies at North Carolina State University. He graduated in 1957 with a Masters of Science in Genetics and a minor in Statistics. Lee received his PhD in Genetics and minor in Statistics in 1963 also from North Carolina State University. After graduation, Lee and Doris moved to Brookings, South Dakota where Lee accepted a position as the Agricultural Experiment Station Statistician at South Dakota State University. He retired from SDSU in 1995. Lee was a faithful member of Morningside Community Church. He was also a lifelong member and supporter of the Farmhouse Fraternity, and in 1976 he received the "Master Builder of Men" award at the national Biannual Conclave in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lee's children and grandchildren were his greatest joy. He was an extremely generous man and will be greatly missed. Lee is survived by his wife, Doris; children, Elizabeth (Mark) VanHorn, Lucinda (Ira) DeBough and William (Sarah) Tucker; grandchildren, Michael DeBough, James DeBough (special friend, Halley Anderson) and Lucas, Leah, Logan and Levi Tucker and many nieces and nephews. Lee was preceded in death by his parents and cousin, Ruth Mae Connor.