Ludmilla Palmershiem

Ludmilla Angelina Lillian Geiger Kneuper Palmersheim, “Aunt Lil”, died peacefully of natural causes on March 18, 2013, at the age of 99. Lil was born on March 4, 1914 in Odense, North Dakota to John and Anna (Jochim) Geiger, the 7th of ten children. At age six Lil moved with her family to live in Montana. She grew up in Bridger and graduated from Bridger High School in 1933. Lil's siblings taught her to swim when she was eight. They had many fun times swimming in the Big Ditch and later in the new pool in Bridger. Lil was a member of the YMCA for 54 years and enjoyed swimming until the age of 92. Lil was a great athlete. She played basketball with the Bridger Scouts for four years and was captain of the team for two years. Lil played softball with the Spokane Bombers when she worked for the government, where her team won the City Championship in 1944. Lil liked to swim, bowl and tried hard at golf, however was indeed a Duffer. Lil loved to dance, especially the German Waltz. She also loved to travel and enjoyed sharing stories that she'd been in every state, except Alaska. Other vacations included Mexico, the Bahamas, and many trips to Canada. During World War II Lil met Erhard “Toddy” Kneuper in Helena, where he was training to be a paratrooper and she was training to be “Rosie the Riveter.” She worked at Geiger Air Base in Spokane, Washington when Toddy went to war. Lil and Toddy married on July 25, 1950 in the historic St. Mary of the Mountains Catholic Church in Virginia City, Nevada. They made their home in Toddy's hometown of New Braunfels, Texas. When Toddy was killed in a highway accident on September 11, 1951, Lil came back to Montana to be with her parents and family. Lil loved her waitress work at Bob Porter's Elmo Club and often remarked that she had more fun than the customers. She provided information, photographs and stories to the Western Heritage Center for the exhibit that was created about the Elmo Club. Lil also worked for the Credit Bureau of Billings for 21 years. On October 8, 1966, a new life began for Lil when she married Richard “Dick” Palmersheim at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Billings. Dick died October 5, 1993. One of Lil's greatest pleasures was traveling around the country on the many road trips with Dick. After each one Lil would say, “That was the best trip ever!” Lil loved to spend time on the Boulder, Madison and Stillwater Rivers to camp, fish and sleep under the stars, which was how they spent their weekends when they weren't playing golf. Dick and Lil took their nieces and nephews on many memorable camping trips to Yellowstone Park. Lil was a classy lady who dressed beautifully and loved hats. She had a collection of over fifty different hats and wore one wherever she went. When Lil had to move out of her home at the age of 92, she gave most of her hats away to her family and friends. Lil was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Mother Teresa Circle, Children of Joy & Gladness Prayer Group, Council of Catholic Women (CCW), a Bible study group, the YMCA, the Laurel Golf Club, the Red Hat Society, and the Elmo Over the Hill Gang. Dick and Lil both had open-heart surgeries and were founding members of Mended Hearts in Billings. At age 95 Lil participated in a year-long retreat called Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (Spiritual Exercises for Everyday Living). Aunt Lil had no children of her own but her numerous nieces and nephews were family to her – she loved them all dearly. She had seven Godsons and one Goddaughter. A very special nephew, Art Geiger, was like a loving son when Aunt Lil became a widow. He loved and cared for her in many ways. Sharon (Honey Bee) Kirkness was her forever friend and her niece, Julie Palmersheim, was her special little girl. Lil is survived by three sisters-in-law, Clara Geiger, Dode (Dan) Donnelly, and Mary Frances (Ray) Birgenheier, and all her nieces and nephews. Lil was preceded in death by two beloved husbands, Toddy and Dick; her parents, whom she fondly called “John the Great” and “Anna the Beautiful”; three brothers, Tony Geiger, Frank Geiger, and Martin Geiger; one adopted brother, John Connolly; and five sisters, Julia Kilwine, Margaret Hertz, Sr. Barbara Mary Geiger, Sr. Mary Louise Geiger and Sr. Toni Geiger. Lil had a deep devotion to our Lord Jesus and was our greatest prayer warrior. She enriched our lives with her faith in God, her love, her prayers and her friendship. Service: In remembrance of Lil's life, a vigil service will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Sunday, March 24, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., and a funeral Mass will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Monday, March 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Committal will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.