Elizabeth Preston

Elizabeth “Liz” Benge Preston, 78, of Billings, died peacefully on July 17, 2023, beside a window with a beautiful view, in the company of loved ones.

Born to Earl and Marilyn Benge on May 4, 1945, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Liz grew up in nearby Waukesha with three siblings, Earl, Barbara, and Mark, in a household that fostered her love of music, education, and creativity. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, she lived briefly in the Chicago area before making the fateful decision to take summer classes at Montana State University in Bozeman, where she met her husband, Thomas Preston, on a tour bus to Yellowstone National Park. Six months later, they married and relocated to Montana, where she lived for her remaining 51 years.

Liz's three children made her endlessly proud: Air Force Colonel Thomas “Tommy” Preston, currently of Niceville, FL, shares her wanderlust and reliably supplied footage of his family's world adventures for her to enjoy from afar. School District 2 educator Jennifer “Jenn” Peter of Billings, followed in her professional footsteps, receiving invaluable mentorship from Liz throughout her career; Jenn was Liz's dedicated companion and advocate in recent years. And book editor Elizabeth “Betsy” Morrissey of Aurora, IL, inherited at least a fraction of Liz's sewing talents and her penchant for scoring clearance shopping deals at Dillard's. Liz's kids were her pride and joy . . . until her first grandchild arrived in 2005 and she redirected her bottomless love, infinite patience, and unparalleled wisdom into a new generation that includes Tristan, Lillia, Rori, Maddie, Annie, and Charlie. Nothing gave her greater happiness than watching her beloved grandkids grow up, whether it was in person or, thanks to modern technology, across the miles via video chat.

Professionally, Liz served Billings School District 2 for many years, first as a substitute, then as grade-school teacher, then, after earning her master's in library science from the University of Arizona, as a librarian at multiple schools, including McKinley, Rimrock, Newman, and Orchard. She was an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma professional sorority. An extraordinarily hard worker, she dedicated much of her energy in the 1980s and 90s to supporting the Preston family's entrepreneurial leanings, both helping manage her mother-in-law's Rimrock Mall bakery, Old Town Bakery, and traversing the western United States with her family while her husband conducted book research in every public campground west of the Mississippi River.

A gifted seamstress, Liz sewed wedding gowns for herself and both of her daughters, countless Halloween costumes, high school formal dresses, baby blankets, and much more through the years. She was a talented flutist in her youth, which she channeled into a passion for music education. Happiest when she had flowers in view, she was a green-thumbed gardener who lovingly tended all manner of plant life. She was also a cunning card sharp, still winning hands of rummy against her daughter Jenn in her final days.

Possessing a strength of character that will never be matched, Liz set an example for generations to come of what can be accomplished with kindness, hard work, generosity, creativity, and above all, a positive attitude. The hole she leaves behind cannot be filled, but as she always counseled her children, “Tomorrow is another day.”

Liz is survived by her husband, Thomas; children Thomas (Alexandria, daughters Aurora and Savannah), Jennifer (Brian, children Tristan and Lillia) and Elizabeth (Sean, children Madeline and Charles); and her sister, Barbara Martin. She was also deeply loved and respected by her siblings-in-law, Jane, James, and Kathryn Preston. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Marilyn, and brothers, Earl (Janice) and Mark (Cindy).

Memorial events tailored to Liz's quiet and reflective nature will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Red Lodge Music Festival, a music education summer camp for teens: https://www.rlmf.org/donate/