Lois Marie Bernhardt

Lois Marie Bernhardt

Lois Marie Bernhardt, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, passed away in her home in Billings, on Dec. 10, 2021. She was 88 years old.

Lois was born to Myrthel Lemke (Thorpe) and Fred Lemke on Feb. 25, 1933, in Reeder, North Dakota. She attended school through eighth grade in Haley, North Dakota, where she later enjoyed volunteering at the St. John’s Lutheran Church. She would also call Gascane home for a time, before moving to Montana.

Upon moving to Montana, Lois settled in Laurel, where she met and married her husband, Jacob Bernhardt. They married May 4, 1957. They stayed in Laurel most of their marriage, and briefly lived in Roundup, until Jacob’s death in 1979. After her husband’s passing, she returned to Laurel for a short time, then later moved to Billings, where she remained until her death.

Though Lois never had any biological children, she was promoted to the rank of grandma when her four stepchildren became parents. Lois enjoyed caring for people, and she thoroughly enjoyed being grandma to her grandchildren, and later great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed being “Aunty Lois” to her siblings’ children and their families. Her family would often comment on what a wonderful cook she was, and they especially enjoyed her German food. Lois never let her guests leave hungry, and often sent them home with a dish or two.

Aside from being a loving caregiver and a wonderful cook, Lois enjoyed polka dancing in her younger years and, later in life, feeding her songbirds, wild ducks and squirrels. She kept food and water out for her birds all year long, and her little yard in Billings was like a tiny nature reserve. She also kept track of the birthdays and anniversaries of nieces, nephews, kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids, and enjoyed sending them cards for those special occasions and other holidays.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents, Myrthel and Fred; siblings Tom Patch/Witcher, Russell Patch/Witcher, Pearl Patch/Stoltz-Linnell, Wayne Patch, Freddie Lemke, Edna Lemke/Soderstrom; stepchildren Jean Ward (Ellis), Jerry Bernhardt (Lenna), Judy Metzger (Melvin); sons-in-law Bob Richmond and Melvin Metzger, and daughter-in-law Lenna Bernhardt. She is survived by stepdaughter, Joyce Richmond and son-in-law Ellis Ward, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Lois’s celebration of life will be determined by her family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Help for Homeless Pets of Billings.