Lillian M. Tempel

Lillian Marie Tempel, 89, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

Lillian was born January 16, 1931 in Malta to John and Helen (Cookingham) Abrahamson. She attended country school near Malta, one year in Saco, and graduated from Malta High School.  Lillian worked as a waitress in Malta area and at the B & E Café in Joplin before marrying Kenneth R. Tempel on October 11, 1950 in Havre. After marrying they moved north of Chester to live the farm life and raise up 6 girls in total.

She was active as a 4-H Leader when her children were younger and enjoyed gardening and raising animals.

Lillian loved sewing, crocheting, and quilting.  She enjoyed having her girls around anytime and especially when she was sewing.  Lillian celebrated in the extraordinary joy and wonder quilting offered as a member of the Shelby Quilt Guild.  She especially enjoyed shopping with her daughters for beautiful material to make that next beautiful quilt to give away to family or charily. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker and enjoyed cooking for large gatherings, baking sweets, and offering food to others.

Trout fishing was another thing that Lillian was passionate about.  Kenny and Lillian, along with family and friends, spent a lot of free time fishing on their own freshly stocked fishponds.

She was very good at catching fish, sometimes even having as many as 3 large trout on her line at one time before reeling them in.

She treasured her dog, Tesse, and cats, Baby and Mr. Big, as they kept her company while she lived at home taking care of her yard and flowers and still raising her own vegetable garden.

She enjoyed listening to old western music and would challenge herself to put together 1000-piece puzzles.

She was known for always having a green thumb and was proud of her indoor and outdoor flowers that she grew.  She enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air, and in the spring in summer she would spend a lot of her days outside tending to her yard, and even mowing and weed eating her whole yard on her own.

She loved outings in her new car and visiting family and friends.

She had a memory second to none and was always there if anyone was in need. She valued friends and family above all things and loved the large family reunion get togethers or just being around her daughters, grandkids, and great grandkids.

Lillian was loved by many and will truly be missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenny Tempel; daughter, Leslie (Bob) Wear; brothers, Willard, Wendell, and Wallace Abrahamson; and son-in-law, Fran VanHoudt.

Survivors include daughters, Donna (Bob) Chadwick and children, Jason (Taryn) Tempel, Elisa Calace, Vince (Vimon) Calace, and Bryan (Carly Jo) Calace; Doris (Tom) Koontz and son, Shanon (Racheal Koontz) and daughter, Jeannean (Scott) Marshall; Sally VanHoudt and daughter, Anna (Mike) Veillette; Janet (Elvin) Sundgren and children, Haley (Kevin) Velk, Kristie (Robert) Pulst, Ashley (Justin) Wickum, and Eric (Karri) Sundgren; Karen Johnson (Errol Fritz) and Karen’s children, Levi (Sarah) Johnson, Johanna (David) Lesiak, Jillien (Tyler) Streit, Lewis (Katherine) Johnson; granddaughter, Dixie (Shawn) Riley; 33 great grandchildren; brothers, Warren and William Abrahamson; and sister, Marian Gilmore.

A private graveside will take place in Chester Cemetery.