Officer Lee Newbill

In Memory of Officer Lee Newbill

Obituary for Lee Stewart Newbill

Lee Stewart Newbill was born in Newport Beach, California October 3, 1958.

Officer Newbill ended his watch May 19, 2007.

Lee loved music, especially Celtic music and while he could not sing, he was self-taught with the fiddle and dulcimer. However, as he practiced the fiddle he was often asked to take his efforts to another room. Lee was a great storyteller. He had a gift for turning everyday happenings into entertaining stories to share with family and friends.

Lee died doing what he loved, serving people. Lee’s last words were to tell his partner to take cover as they came under fire that last night.

It is not how he died that makes Lee a hero, it’s how he lived his life.

Lee’s father was a marine aviator and Lee gained much of his love for history by living all over the United States and in the Panama Canal Zone.

Lee graduated from high school in Cherry Point, North Carolina. Afterwards he attended college in northern Virginia until transferring to the University of Idaho, where he graduated in 1982.

Lee married Rebecca Fouts December 22, 1981 in Twin Falls, Idaho, hometown of Lois and the late Marvin Fouts. He was proudly sworn in as a commissioned Army officer in May 1982 and served in the army for ten years.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Fouts Newbill, his three children, Christina Newbill of Missoula, Montana; Lisa Rippee and husband Copt. Scott Rippee of Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Airman 1st Class Jeremiah Newbill and wife Samantha Banner Newbill, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Caiden and Danny Rippee and Aiden Sullivan.

Lee was the fourth of five children and is survived by his parents, Merrill (Bud) and Mary Newbill, his siblings – Dixie Reyes, Judy Burns, Katy Newbill and Edward Newbill of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola, Florida. He will be sorely missed by his family, which includes numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and in-laws.

Please help by celebrating his life with your happy memories of him.

Lee will be cremated and his ashes scattered over his beloved Idaho woods. His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to make donations send them to the Lee Newbill Memorial Fund c/o the Moscow Police Department, the Lee Newbill Foundation Fund c/o the US Bank in Moscow, or to the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) at https://www.nationalcops.org .

Biography
In Honor of Lee Stewart Newbill

Moscow Police Department
May 19, 2007

Lee joined the Moscow Police Department on March 1, 2001. Lee attended the 130th Session of the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy, graduating June 15, 2001. Lee currently held an Intermediate Certificate.

Born: October 3, 1958 in Newport Beach, California.

Wife: Rebecca Jo “Becky”(Fouts) Newbill, married on December 22, 1981 in Twin Falls, Idaho (Becky’s DOB: January 5, 1961).
Lee and Becky met in the ROTC program while they both attended the University of Idaho.

Parents: Merrill S. “Bud” Newbill, and Mary L. (Newton) Newbill
(Lee’s father was a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps).
Lee’s parents are currently residing in Gulf Breeze, FL

Children: Christina Gail Newbill, DOB: August 19, 1982
Currently residing in Missoula, MT

Lisa Marie (Newbill) Rippee, DOB: October 19, 1983
Currently residing in Fort Gordon, GA

Jermiah Lee Newbill, DOB: January 26, 1986
Currently stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

Brother: Edward M. Newbill
Currently residing in Gulf Breeze, FL

Sisters: Dixie E. Newbill
Currently residing in Gulf Breeze, FL

Judy A. (Newbill) Burns
Currently residing in Pensacola, FL

Katy E. Newbill
Currently residing in Gulf Breeze, FL

High School: Havelock High School, Havelock, North Carolina. Graduated June 10, 1976

College: Graduated from the University of Idaho on May 15, 1982, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Studies. Also attended Northern Virginia Community College in Fairfax, VA.

Military: United States Army, May 1982 to July 1992. Received an honorable discharge at the rank of Captain.

Previous Employment:
July, 1992 – March, 2001. University of Idaho Night Watch Program. Lee was the Security Supervisor.
June 1997-December, 1999. Owner of Blue Mountain Chimneys.
June, 1995 – June, 1997. Co-owner of RMR Ltd. Construction

Donation Information

Donations to the Newbill Family may be made to the C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) in lieu of flowers.

Donations to the Newbill Family may be made to the Lee Newbill Foundation Fund, established at the US Bank in Moscow. You can mail your donation to: Jodie Hamilton, Whitman County Sheriff Office, PO Box 470, Colfax WA 99111 who will be coordinating the handling of this fund for the Newbill Family.