PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Lionel B. Berube, 84, of 211 Randall Road, Lewiston, died unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 19, at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, with his family by his side.

Born in Lewiston on April 25, 1921, he was the son of Alphonse and Emelina Landry Berube. He was educated at St. Mary’s School and Robert’s Business School.

Lionel was an entrepreneur at an early age. To help support his family during the Depression, he sold ice cream on busy Lisbon Street from an insulated box, constructed by his father, and filled with dry ice. His skills were quickly recognized by Wiseman Farms Ice Cream, which hired him in 1938 and for which he worked until leaving for the U.S. Army in 1942.

During World War II, he was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., and Bermuda from 1942 to 1946. He was discharged as staff sergeant.

He worked for H.P. Hood for 37 years. Upon retiring in 1984, he was district sales manager for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. He received many awards and recognition for his outstanding salesmanship.

On Oct. 12, 1946, he married Annette Kirouac at Holy Family Church.

Lionel was a communicant of Holy Family Church. He was an active member of the former Musical-Literary Club and was treasurer of the St. Mary’s Cadets for many years. He also served as director and treasurer of the Lewiston-Auburn Catholic Bureau of Social Services.

In 1954, he was elected president of the Ste. Famille Federal Credit Union and then as a director for many years. He was honored for 30 years of volunteer service to the credit union. He was a member of the Maine Grocers Association and American Legion Post 22.

He was noted for his great sense of humor and enjoyed visiting the elderly. Until his retirement, he enjoyed golfing and bowling. For 14 years after his retirement, he and his wife spent their winters in Florida. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a loving husband, father and grandfather.

He leaves his wife of 59 years, Annette Berube of Lewiston; two sons, Robert and his wife, Patty, of Rye, N.H., and Michael and his wife, Michele, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; three daughters, Denise and her husband, Frank Martel, of Rye, N.H., Anne Marie and her husband, Dr. Reginald Mailhot, of Lewiston, and Janice and her husband, David Latulippe, of Freeport; 14 grandchildren, Randy, Meghan and Jennifer Martel, Audrey and Sarah Mailhot, Matthew, Kassy and Sammy Berube, Abigail and Emily Latulippe and Marisa, Anthony, Giancarlo and Luca Tucci-Berube; one brother, Laurent Berube and his wife, Cecile, of Montreal; and one sister, Lucille and her husband, Albert Carrier, of Auburn.

He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Sister Therese of the Ursuline Sisters; and a brother, the Rev. Louis Berube.