Elizabeth Scheafer Obituary (1920-2021) – Billings, MT

Elizabeth (sister) Johnson Shepherd

Elizabeth (sister) Johnson Scheafer passed away on December 16, 2021 in Billings, Montana, after a brief illness. She would have turned 102 in January. Sis and her twin brother Oscar (Buster) Johnson were born on January 10, 1920 to Frank and Edna Johnson in Killdeer, North Dakota.

Mom married our dad John and they settled in Billings, Montana. Their home was a safe place for everyone. They treated everyone who ended up in their home as part of their family. Mom and Dad loved them all.

Mama was a housewife for many years. She loved baking spudnuts, bread, and cookies and was known for bringing her cookie jar on family visits. She was the baker of many cakes for special occasions.

She volunteered for the Garfield PTA and eventually worked for many years at the Garfield School and retired from Garfield.

Mom loved watching her son and grandchildren play sports. She was a huge supporter of Legion Baseball. The Utah Jazz was their basketball team, they could list the players and coaches.

Mom started golfing in her early 80s. Mama belonged to Moose Lodge for many years. Her friend and companion Walt Reichenberg and her mother would dance all night. We thank the Reichenberg family.

Her extended family were her Jazzercise friends. We are so grateful to them for all the love and support they have given her over the years. Thank you to her sister Bunny and her good friends Patty and Lurella for picking them up and taking them to class.

Mom leaves behind her children, Gary (Diane) Scheafer from Knoxville, Tennessee, Marlene (Dave) Hughes from Helena, Montana, Sandra (Bud) Heringer from Glasgow, Montana, Karen Robinson from Huntley, Montana. Her sister Bunny (Bill) Huvaere is from Billings, Montana, and her brother Lawrence (Sandra) Johnson is from Vancouver, Washington. Grandsons Warren Scheafer, Carrie Flexer, Kayce Koehler, Kevin Kramlick, Lyndee Prill, Jeanette Ricks, Mike Prill, Misty Raup, Jim and Jeff Heringer, Tracy Tamayo, Danny and John Barnett. Twenty-four great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Her death was preceded by her husband John, her parents, the sisters Alma and Esther, the brothers Marvin and Oscar and the stepdaughter Betty Barnett from Chicago, Betty’s son Harry, the great-grandson Nicholas Scheafer.

Due to the rise in COVID and the upcoming holidays, there will be no official church services. Her 100th birthday party was her celebration of life.

Memorial services can be held on behalf of the mother of the American Lutheran Church, Billings.

Published by Billings Gazette on December 19, 2021.