Lena Schweigert, age 97, passed away Tuesday March 23, 2010 at the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta.
Born May 30, 1912, Lena was the 6th of eleven children, of which 9 were girls, born to Jakob and Eva Kurle. She was born at her parents home south of Mercer, North Dakota.
She attended school, finishing the 8th grade and was not allowed to continue because she was needed at home to help in the fields and with the livestock.
Lena met Christ Schweigert in the summer of 1933 when he came to her parent’s farm looking for work. They were married September 30, 1934 in Mound City, South Dakota, and started their life around the Artas, South Dakota area.
The years ahead were very hard and Christ found work wherever he could. They often shared living quarters with other couples dividing the house into a 2 family dwelling. Their 4 children were born in South Dakota.
In the fall of 1945 they bought a farm 10 miles north of Baker, Montana where they lived for 4 years. After selling the farm, they moved into Baker and purchased the Lakeside Hotel in the fall of 1949. The years at the hotel were good family years. Lena took care of the hotel and Christ worked for the Fallon County Road Department.
In 1960 they moved to Billings and purchased the Uptown Motel. In 1969 they semi-retired and sold the motel. They worked a few years operating self-service gas stations. After full retirement they moved to Laurel, Montana and would spend their winters in Arizona, which they totally enjoyed.
After Christ died in 1986 Lena continued to live in Laurel and spend her winters in Arizona with her son Jim. In the spring of 2000 she moved to Malta to be closer to her daughter. Lena was a great cook and for years her families enjoyed her wonderful German meals. She was busy well into her 90's making homemade noodles and kuchen.
She also spent time crocheting and her great joy was crocheting clothes for “abandoned” baby dolls. She took great pride in dressing them and loved them all.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years in 1986, her son Jim in 2008, daughters-in-law Burnette in 1995 and Nancy in 2010; and a great-grandson Jakob Hofmann in 1995, and 9 siblings
Lena is survived by her children Darvin (Ann) of Casa Grande, Arizona; Riggie of Ronan, Montana; and Mavis (Alfred) Grabofsky of Malta, Montana. Her brother Teddy (Ruth) Kurle of Mercer, North Dakota; and her sister Alvina Packard of Sacramento, California; 13 grandchildren, 19 great- grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren and numerous step great-grandchildren and all of their families.
Funeral services are Tuesday March 30, 2010 at Malta Lutheran Church at 11:00am and graveside service and burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings on Wednesday March 31, 2010 at 1:00pm.
Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.
