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Montana Western Foundation Establishes Scholarship in Memory of Lee E. Orr 

December 19, 2022

The University of Montana Western Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Lee E. Orr Scholarship.

Montana Western Foundation Establishes Scholarship in Memory of Lee E. Orr.

This scholarship was established by his loving family in honor of their devoted husband and father. Lee E. Orr was born and raised in Dillon, Montana. After graduating from Beaverhead County High School, Orr attended Western Montana College for two years, then transferred to Montana State University earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture in 1958. Shortly after, he accepted a position at Fredricks Development Corporation and moved to Southern California. He retired as Executive Vice President at FDC in 1988 and spent his semi-retired years as a private business investor.

A man of many interests and hobbies, Orr was a global traveler who made two around the world trips in his lifetime as well as visiting all 50 states. He enjoyed life to the fullest and in 85 years he managed to accomplish everything on his bucket list plus more. One of his greatest joys in life was being a father to his children, Leanne and Lee W. 

After Orr’s passing in February 2021, Carol, his wife of 50 years, and his children established this scholarship in his memory at Montana Western. Some of Lee’s fondest memories from childhood and early adulthood revolved around his experiences and relationships in Dillon and Western Montana College (now the University of Montana Western). 

The University of Montana Western Foundation is grateful for this generous gift to establish the Lee E. Orr Scholarship and privileged to remember his legacy through his scholarship. 

“The Orr family has an enduring history with Montana Western and the Dillon community. We are honored to remember this remarkable man knowing that his scholarship will make a tangible difference in the lives of Montana Western students in perpetuity,” commented Roxanne Engellant, Executive Director of the UMW Foundation. 

Applicants can visit https://umwfoundation.academicworks.com/ to learn more and apply by the priority deadline of January 15, 2023. All graduates from Montana high schools planning to attend or currently attending Montana Western are eligible to apply.

To learn more about the University of Montana Western Foundation, please visit https://www.umwfoundation.org.

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